Chad Closes Eastern Border with Sudan Following Cross — Border Incursion. N’Djamena, Chad — Chad has temporarily shut down its eastern border with Sudan, effective Monday, following a cross-border incursion that resulted in the deaths of five Chadian soldiers, according to local reports.
The border closure comes after clashes between Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and militia fighters loyal to Sudan’s military-backed government in the border town of Tina, which left five soldiers and three civilians dead, with 12 others wounded, local sources.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, has periodically spilled over into Chadian territory, causing casualties and property damage. Chad’s government announced the border closure, stating it aims to prevent the conflict from spreading further and to protect its citizens and refugee populations. “The border will remain closed until further notice, citing repeated incursions and violations committed by forces in Sudan’s conflict,” a government statement.
Exceptions for humanitarian purposes will be made with prior government approval. Chad hosts nearly a million refugees from Sudan, which has descended into a civil war following a power struggle between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
A border guard officer in Tina confirmed the deaths of five soldiers and emphasized the need for additional security measures to protect civilians on the Chadian side.
The two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said more Chadian troops were being deployed to the area.
The SAF and the RSF did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Last year, a drone attack killed two Chadian soldiers, according to local authorities and a security source, though it was unclear who carried out the attack.
Chad has reportedly served as a transit route for supplies, including weapons and drones, to the RSF, though the Chadian government denies involvement.
Sudan’s civil war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 11 million to flee their homes, triggering what the United Nations says is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Further details are expected.
