The Chadian conflict has been characterized by a series of rebellions against President Idriss Déby, who came to power in 1990 after toppling the long-standing government of Hissène Habré. On this notable day, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Unity (UFDC), a prominent rebel faction, launched a coordinated offensive against a Chadian military installation in eastern Chad. The assault resulted in the deaths of over 150 soldiers, marking one of the deadliest encounters in the ongoing struggle between the Chadian government and various rebel groups. The UFDC primarily comprised disaffected former military personnel and civilians who opposed Déby's authoritarian rule and his government's failure to address pressing issues like poverty, insecurity, and humanitarian crises following the Darfur conflict spilling into Chad.

This devastating event underscored the fragility of state authority in Chad, illustrating the challenges faced by African nations grappling with internal divisions and competing interests. In the months leading to this incident, tensions had been rising, with UFDC fighters making strategic maneuvers across the porous borders with Sudan, capitalizing on the discontent existing within vulnerable populations. The implications of this assault extended beyond the immediate casualties, as it raised alarms about the capability of the Chadian military and the resilience of the UFDC amid a complex web of regional conflicts.