Chad Closes Sudan Border After Armed Incursions

Chad has announced the immediate closure of its border with Sudan following what officials described as repeated incursions by armed groups, escalating tensions along the volatile frontier.

The decision comes two days after Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are engaged in a prolonged war against the Sudanese army, declared control of the border town of Al-Tina. The conflict between the two sides has been ongoing since April 2023 and has severely destabilized the region.

Chadian government spokesperson and Minister of Communication Mohamed Qassim Cherif said the border closure was prompted by repeated violations and cross-border incursions carried out by parties involved in the Sudan conflict. He emphasized that N’Djamena aims to prevent any further spread of violence into Chadian territory.

Authorities stated that Chad reserves the right to respond to any attack or violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The government confirmed that all cross-border movement of people and goods has been suspended until further notice. However, limited exceptions may be granted strictly for humanitarian reasons.

The Sudan war has previously spilled over into border areas. In mid-January, seven Chadian soldiers were killed in clashes with an armed group along the frontier, according to a government spokesperson.

Days after that incident, the RSF expressed regret over what it described as unintended clashes with Chadian forces, saying the confrontation occurred accidentally while pursuing armed groups that had allegedly entered from Chadian territory.

The conflict in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced around 11 million people to flee their homes, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations.