Chad has begun the emergency relocation of refugees from its border with Sudan as the military prepares to deploy in response to escalating cross-border attacks.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby last week ordered troops to be ready for possible retaliation after a drone strike from Sudan killed 17 people in Chad, including mourners attending a funeral.
Authorities say an initial group of about 2,300 refugees, more than half of them women and children, are being moved away from the frontier. The relocation began in the eastern province of Ennedi Est and is expected to expand to other border towns previously used as transit points.
According to Saleh Tebir Souleymane, the operation is being carried out under urgent instructions from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as the army moves to secure the border in the coming days.
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Chad had already closed its eastern border with Sudan last month following clashes linked to the ongoing conflict that killed five Chadian soldiers. Despite the closure, refugees continue to cross into Chad, fleeing intense fighting on the Sudanese side.
The violence stems from the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023 and has periodically spilled over into Chadian territory.
The situation highlights growing regional instability, as Chad balances humanitarian responsibilities with rising security concerns along its volatile eastern border.
Africa News