The Chadian parliament on Monday, 26 May 2025 voted unanimously to extend the state of emergency in Lake Province by three months, following a wave of Boko Haram attacks that killed 23 soldiers and injured 26 others at a military base earlier this month. The resolution was adopted during an extraordinary joint plenary session of the National Assembly and the Senate, with 237 votes in favour, zero against, and zero abstentions.

Why the Emergency Was Extended

Chadian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Limane Mahamat, told lawmakers that the extension is necessary given continued armed incursions, terrorist acts, and cross-border movements threatening the stability of the Lake Chad Basin. He said the measure would strengthen the operational capabilities of defence and security forces, facilitate requisitions, and tighten controls on movement across the region.

'As part of the implementation of our measures in Lake Province, we have requested that herders not frequent the areas declared high-security zones,' Mahamat said during the session.

The Boko Haram Attack That Triggered the Crisis

Chad first declared a 20-day state of emergency in Lake Province on 8 May 2025, running from midnight on 7 May to midnight on 27 May, after Boko Haram militants launched an assault on the Barka Tolorom island military base in the province. The attack left 23 soldiers dead and 26 wounded — one of the deadliest single incidents for Chadian forces in recent years in the Lake Chad region.

The army's statement urged officials and security forces to take 'all necessary measures' to ensure the safety of people and their property. It also warned that 'violations of measures taken under the state of emergency are punishable in accordance with applicable laws.'

President Deby's Response

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited injured soldiers at a hospital and posted a message on his social media platforms expressing condolences. 'I express the nation's deepest condolences, and to the wounded soldiers receiving care, I wish a speedy recovery,' he said.

The presidential response underscores the political weight of the crisis: Lake Province has long been the frontline of Chad's battle against Boko Haram and its regional offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have exploited the porous borders and ungoverned islands of Lake Chad for over a decade.

Regional Security Context

The Lake Chad Basin — shared by Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon — remains one of the most volatile security theatres in sub-Saharan Africa. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional coalition, has conducted repeated operations in the area, yet militant groups have demonstrated a persistent capacity to regroup and strike. This extension signals that N'Djamena does not expect a quick resolution, and that military pressure alone has not yet suppressed the threat. How the three-month window is used — and whether civilian populations in declared high-security zones receive adequate protection — will be closely watched by regional observers and humanitarian agencies.