Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan following deadly weekend clashes linked to Sudan’s ongoing civil war, after five Chadian soldiers were killed in fighting near the frontier town of Tine.
Officials in N’Djamena confirmed that the decision was taken as a security precaution after violence on Saturday left five soldiers dead and several others wounded. According to local sources, three civilians were also killed and at least 12 people were injured during the confrontation, which involved fighters connected to Sudan’s conflict.
The violence stems from Sudan’s war between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a conflict that began in April 2023 and has repeatedly destabilized areas along the border. The porous frontier between Chad and Sudan has seen periodic incursions, stray attacks, and displacement as armed groups maneuver near civilian zones.
A Chadian border security officer in Tine confirmed the deaths of the five soldiers and said additional measures were necessary to safeguard civilians on the Chadian side. Authorities have begun deploying reinforcements to the affected area, according to security sources familiar with the response.
In a government statement issued Monday, Chad announced that the border would remain closed until further notice. Officials cited repeated incursions and violations linked to Sudan’s conflict and said the move was intended to prevent the fighting from spreading further into Chadian territory.
The government emphasized that the closure aims to protect both local residents and refugee populations who have fled violence in Sudan. Chad hosts a large number of Sudanese refugees, particularly in its eastern provinces, where humanitarian conditions are already strained limited infrastructure and recurring insecurity.
Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces did not immediately comment on the latest incident. Previous cross border tensions have heightened concerns about regional spillover from the war, which has caused widespread displacement and humanitarian crises inside Sudan.
Last year, a drone strike in the same border region killed two Chadian soldiers, though responsibility for that attack was not officially established. Security analysts say the cumulative effect of these incidents increases the risk of deeper regional involvement.
Observers warn that continued instability along the frontier could draw Chad more directly into the conflict, particularly if cross border attacks persist. The border closure underscores N’Djamena’s effort to contain the violence and reinforce its territorial integrity amid an increasingly volatile security environment in the Sahel and surrounding regions.
