Operation Boma's Wrath

Operation Boma's Wrath was a military operation launched by Chad against Boko Haram.[1] Operation was launched on March 31, 2020, one week after Boko Haram's attack on Chadian military base in which 92 Chadian soldiers were killed.[2] Aim of the operation was to destroy hidden jihadist bases and repulse their forces out of Chad. Operation lasted 10 days and according to Chadian military it resulted in roughly 1000 insurgents killed, their bases in Chad destroyed, and capture of arms caches previously taken from Chad.[3]

Operation Boma's Wrath
Part of the Boko Haram insurgency

Chadian troops return to N'Djamena on 13 April 2020 after the end of Operation Boma's Wrath
Date31 March 2020 - 9 April 2020
Location
Chad

Nigeria

Niger

Result Chadian victory
Belligerents
 Chad
 Niger
Parts of Multinational Joint Task Force		 Boko Haram
Commanders and leaders
Idriss Deby Abubakar Shekau
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
52 killed
192 wounded		 ~ 1000 killed
58 arrested
50 motorized boats destroyed
At least 20,000 people displaced

Background
Main article: March 2020 Chad and Nigeria massacres

On March 23, 2020 Boko Haram attacked Chadian military base on an island in Lake Chad. Chadian troops were attacked 5 AM and they fought against the insurgents until 12 PM when the insurgents left by speedboats. During the attack 92 Chadian soldiers were killed, 24 army vehicles destroyed, and weapons belonging to Chadian military were stolen.[4][2][5] President of Chad, Idriss Deby traveled to the military base a day after the attack, he said that Chadian military has never lost so many men in one attack.[6] Three days of national mourning for fallen soldiers were declared.[3]

Timeline

27 March 2020 – Fouli and Kaya departments of Lac region were declared a war zone and state of emergency came into effect in same departments. Several civilian communities fled the region.[7]

31 March 2020 – Operation begun and Chad deployed forces to neighboring countries Niger and Nigeria, President of Chad, Idriss Deby confirmed that his country has an agreement with Niger and Nigeria.[8]

1 April 2020 – First fighting occurred. Video of Chadian soldiers singing morale-rising victory songs, as well as video of Chadian soldiers beating unconscious bodies of terrorists to death were obtained and released by PR Nigeria.[9][10]

2 April 2020 – Prefect of Fouli department announced that 20,000 people have been displaced from the areas of military operation, since the beginning of the operation.[11]

3 April 2020 – Chadian military announced that in first 48 hours of operation, 76 jihadists have been killed while 7 Chadian soldiers lost their lives. Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram called for resistance by his troops in audio tape which was released.[12]

4 April 2020 – President of Chad, Idriss Deby announced that all islands on the Lake Chad were cleared of terrorist presence, he applauded the work of defense forces of his country.[13]

5 April 2020 – President of Chad, Idriss Deby announced that Chadian forces destroyed five Boko Haram bases, he also announced that Chadian territory has been cleared of terrorists.[14] Several wounded Chadian soldiers were transferred to the hospital in N'Djamena.[15]

6 April 2020 – Chadian soldiers fought Boko Haram in Magumeri in Nigeria, they allegedly freed Nigerian soldiers held captive. Some Nigerians on social media praised Idriss Deby for his efforts against jihadists, while some others have strongly condemned his decision to lead his troops to Nigerian soil. Idriss Deby told leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau "to surrender or die".[16] Chadian government spokesman confirmed that Chadian territory has been completely cleared of terrorist presence.[17]

7 April 2020 – Abubakar Shekau responded to Idriss Deby saying that Boko Haram will go after him, Abubakar also said that despite the setback inflicted on his group by Chadian army they will continue to fight.[18]

9 April 2020 – Chadian army announced that around 1000 Boko Haram fighters have been killed and that 50 of their motorized boats have been destroyed, while 52 Chadian soldiers were killed and 192 wounded. Military spokesman also said that Chadian soldiers have been deployed on the Lake Chad banks of Niger and Nigeria and that they will remain there until forces of these two countries arrive.[19][20]

Aftermath

On 19 April 2020 44 out of 58 arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorists died of poisoning in prison in Chad. Pathologist's report revealed that a lethal substance was found in bodies of dead prisoners.[21]

Despite the success of the operation Boko Haram attacks in Chad still continue, killing both military personnel and civilians.[22][23][24]

References
  1. "Chad launches 'massive' joint operation against jihadists". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. "Boko Haram kills almost 100 soldiers in seven-hour attack in Chad". France 24. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. "Chad and the Escalating Fight against Boko Haram – Africa Center". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  4. "92 Chad soldiers killed in 'deadliest' Boko Haram attack". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  5. AFP (2020-03-24). "Boko Haram kills 92 Chadian soldiers in seven-hour attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  6. "Boko Haram kills troops in 'deadliest' Chad raid". BBC News. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  7. "Fears for civilians in Chad after army suffers devastating Boko Haram attack". the Guardian. 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  8. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Chad despliega soldados en Níger y Nigeria contra Boko Haram | DW | 31.03.2020". DW.COM (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  9. siteadmin (2020-04-01). "Chadian Army Kills Boko Haram Terrorists In Retaliation For Soldiers' Ambush". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  10. "VIDEO: Chadian troops batter Boko Haram terrorists, Shekau consoles fighters". 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  11. "Chad Situation Report, 2 April 2020 - Chad". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  12. Naranjo, José (2020-04-03). "Ofensiva militar para desalojar a Boko Haram del lago Chad". EL PAÍS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  13. Press, Europa (2020-04-04). "El presidente de Chad asegura que el Ejército ha expulsado a Boko Haram de todas las islas del lago Chad". www.europapress.es. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  14. Fenwick, Fiona (2020-04-05). "Escalating Violence In Chad Threatens Displaced Populations". The Organization for World Peace. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  15. Alwihda, Info. "Tchad : plusieurs soldats blessés dans les affrontements contre Boko Haram". Alwihda Info - Actualités TCHAD, Afrique, International (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  16. "Boko Haram: Surrender or die, Chad's President dares Shekau". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  17. "Les autorités tchadiennes disent avoir éradiqué Boko Haram de leur territoire". VOA (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  18. Akinola, Wale (2020-04-07). "Boko Haram: We are coming after you - Shekau replies Chadian president Déby". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  19. Reuters Staff (2020-04-09). "Chad's army says 52 soldiers, 1,000 Boko Haram fighters killed in operation". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  20. "Chadian troops 'kill 1,000 Boko Haram fighters' in Lake Chad". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  21. "Boko Haram suspects 'die of poison' in Chad jail". BBC News. 2020-04-19. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  22. "The Challenge of Boko Haram Defectors in Chad". War on the Rocks. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  23. Nako, Madjiasra (2020-11-25). "Suspected Boko Haram attack kills four Chadian soldiers". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  24. Afp (2020-08-01). "Ten civilians killed in Boko Haram attack in Chad: army officer". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
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