Chad takes control of region with illegal gold miners and rebel incursion
N’Djamena — The Chadian government said on Thursday that it would assert control over part of the country’s far north that has been troubled by a gold rush and a rebel incursion from neighbouring Libya. Chad’s armed forces have been ordered to expel all illegal gold diggers from the areas of Miski and Kouri Bougri in the Tibesti region, security minister Ahmat Bachir said on state radio. "The defence forces have been ordered to destroy all large machines and water containers and burn all the gold miners’ stores and other equipment" in land and air operations, the source said, adding that troops have also been told to arrest "anyone wandering around in the area". The discovery of gold in the region has triggered an influx of illegal miners from other parts of the country, often leading to violent incidents with locals. On Saturday, rebels opposed to President Idriss Déby crossed into Tibesti from Libya, killing at least three Chadian soldiers, including a colonel, in an attack on Kou...
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