The government of Chad says it repelled an armed attack on the presidential palace Wednesday, killing at least 18 assailants. One member of Chad’s security forces reportedly died. The perpetrators have not been identified, but early reports blamed the attack on Boko Haram.

The attack came hours after Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi during an official visit to N’Djamena. It also comes just weeks after contested parliamentary elections. Déby seized power in Chad after his father, longstanding President Idriss Déby, was killed by rebel forces in 2021. Chad is among a growing number of former French colonies that have expelled French fighters in recent months.