On Sunday, the State Department ordered non-essential American personnel from Chad, amid growing concerns about the advance of rebel forces in the country.
Reuters reported that a State Department spokesman confirmed the move, indicating that rebel groups were approaching the nation’s capital.
“Due to their growing proximity to N’Djamena and the possibility of violence in the city, non-essential US government employees have been ordered to leave Chad by the commercial airline,” the spokesman said.
Hill contacted the State Department for further comments.
Rebel groups have frequently tried to overthrow Idriss Déby, the self-proclaimed president of Chad, who has ruled the country for more than three decades after launching a successful coup himself. Déby is backed by France and the United States, which sees him and the country as an important ally against Islamist extremists in the region.
Rebel forces posted on social media late last week that they had overtaken an army base in Chad in the northern region of the country, while claiming that the army was receiving logistical support from France.
“The enemy, despite the logistical support of the French Air Force, has been totally targeted,” a spokesman for the Chad’s Front for Change and Concord (FACT) said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The French Ministry of Defense would not confirm to the news service if it was involved in the ongoing security efforts in Chad.