In a serious military escalation, a clash on Thursday along the Sudan–Chad border resulted in the deaths of seven Chadian soldiers, according to a government spokesperson who made the announcement on Friday. The spokesperson called on “all parties involved in this conflict to cease any violation of Chadian territory,” warning that “this is the final warning.” A government official accused “elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)” of crossing the border and engaging in combat with Chadian troops.
The Chadian government spokesperson announced on Friday that seven Chadian soldiers were killed on Thursday during a clash with an armed group near the border with Sudan.
Spokesman Kassim Cherif said that fighting broke out between Chadian Defense and Security Forces and “one of the parties to the Sudanese conflict” following a border incursion.
Cherif explained: “They entered Chadian territory. Our defense and security forces ordered them to turn back, but an exchange of fire ensued, resulting in the loss of seven of our soldiers.”
When asked for details, a member of the Chadian government accused “elements of the Rapid Support Forces”—who have been fighting the Sudanese army for nearly three years—of the incursion.
Two Chadian soldiers were also killed on December 26 in a drone attack reportedly carried out by the RSF along the border.
“The Final Warning”
The spokesperson urged “all parties involved in this conflict to stop any violation of Chadian territory,” reiterating that “Chad’s long-standing position is one of neutrality.” He added: “This is the final warning we send to the warring parties: targeting our defense and security forces is unacceptable, and so is the killing of Chadians in this conflict.”
The United Arab Emirates, accused of supporting and arming the RSF, condemned the attack in a post on the social media platform X on Friday morning, without assigning blame to any specific group.
RSF fighters have carried out several attacks near the Chadian border since the force seized control of Al-Fashir, the last army-held state capital in the Darfur region, at the end of October.
These border areas are inhabited by members of the Zaghawa tribe, whose extended families straddle both sides of the frontier. Following the RSF’s capture of Al-Fashir in October, Sudanese army units and allied armed movements reinforced their presence in the region and launched surprise attacks on RSF supply routes coming through the desert from Libya.
It is also worth noting that some RSF leaders have openly accused Chadian army elements—through video statements—of joining the joint Sudanese army–rebel coalition in battles taking place in border towns.
On December 26, a Chadian army camp in Tine, on the Chadian side of the border, was targeted by a drone launched from inside Sudan, killing two soldiers and seriously wounding a third. Each side in the Sudanese conflict blamed the other for the attack.
(Sources: France 24 / AFP / Al-Quds Al-Arabi / Al-Yurae)
