Foreign ministry advises Swiss in Chad to stay indoors
Switzerland is advising around 100 of its citizens in the African state of Chad to stay in their homes, after rebels attacked the capital, N'Djamena.
The authorities in Bern say that despite the attack, development projects run by the Swiss are working normally.
Forces of the Chad president, Idriss Deby, fought off an early morning rebel attack on N’Djamena on Thursday, repelling their most daring attempt yet to capture the capital and oust Deby.
After hours of artillery fire Deby announced that the situation in the capital was under control.
Reports from France say that French warplanes bombarded towns in the east of the country held by rebel forces.
Election
Rebels of the United Front for Democratic Change have long been trying to oust Deby. Their attacks are aimed at preventing the president, who has been in power for 16 years, from being re-elected on May 3.
The Swiss foreign ministry in Bern is following events in Chad closely. “But there is no desperate need to evacuate the estimated 100 Swiss citizens who are there,” spokesman Lars Knuchel told swissinfo.
The United Nations, the United States and the former colonial ruler France are considering ways of bringing their citizens to safety.
As a result of the fighting, the African Union on Thursday called an urgent meeting to discuss the situation in the country.
Switzerland has been in touch with its citizens through its consulate in N’Djamena. “They have been asked to remain in their homes and wait,” Knuchel said.
He added that should an evacuation prove necessary, the Swiss would be informed. Contacts had also been made with the French authorities on the spot.
French support
France is the former colonial power in Chad and the main pillar of support for the Chadian president in the current crisis.
The Swiss foreign ministry has for some time advised Swiss tourists not to travel in Chad because of the insecure situation.
Chad is a priority country for Swiss development aid. Switzerland’s involvement is to continue as normal and no person is to be withdrawn commented Joachim Ahrens from the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC).
The agency has an office in the capital with three Swiss SDC representatives. About 140 Chadians are working around the country in SDC projects.
swissinfo, Renat Künzi
Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world.
This is mainly due to the dry conditions and several civil wars.
The country is three times as big as Germany but only has 10 million inhabitants.
Civil war has been rife since Chad gained its independence from France in 1960.
President Idriss Deby has been in power for 16 years and is up for re-election.
But rebels want to depose him.
The SDC has been in Chad since 1964. Chad has been a priority country since 1993.
The SDC cooperation office in the capital, N’Djamena employs three Swiss. There are 140 local workers distributed throughout the country.
Aid projects are in the areas of agricultural and livestock production, basic education for adults and children and in the health sector.
The aid budget for Chad last year was SFr16.5 million ($12.7 million).
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