42 Killed in Water Conflict in Chad

At least 42 people have been killed and 10 others injured in eastern Chad following violent clashes over access to water resources, highlighting growing tensions in a region already strained by conflict and displacement.

Chadian Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat confirmed the death toll on Sunday during a visit to the village of Egouti in Wadi Fira province, where the violence erupted on Saturday. The clashes began as a dispute between two families over a water well before spiraling into a series of retaliatory attacks across a wider area.

Mahamat said the injured had been transferred to a regional health center, adding that the rapid deployment of the army helped contain the violence and restore order. He noted that the situation is now under control after swift military intervention.

Authorities have launched both a customary mediation process within the community and formal legal proceedings to determine criminal responsibility for the killings.

Clashes over scarce natural resources are a recurring issue in Chad, particularly between local communities reliant on farming and livestock. Similar violence last year in the country’s southwest left 42 people dead and several homes destroyed.

The government has pledged to take all necessary measures to prevent further destabilization, particularly in eastern regions already under pressure from an influx of refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Sudan.

Chad has hosted large numbers of displaced people in recent months, increasing competition for limited resources and placing additional strain on security. In February, authorities closed the country’s borders indefinitely in an effort to prevent the spillover of violence, citing repeated cross-border movements by armed groups involved in the Sudan conflict.

According to United Nations data, more than 40,000 people have been killed in the war in Sudan, although aid organizations estimate the true figure may be significantly higher.

The conflict has triggered what is widely described as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing over 14 million people and pushing parts of Sudan towards famine, while accelerating the spread of disease.