Chad closes its border with Sudan indefinitely following repeated incursions by armed groups involved in Sudan’s civil war.
N’DJAMENA: Chad’s government announced the indefinite closure of its border with Sudan on Monday following several clashes between Chadian soldiers and armed groups from the neighbouring civil war.
Communications Minister Mahamat Gassim Cherif stated the decision was a response to repeated incursions and violations of Chadian territory by forces involved in the Sudanese conflict.
The minister added that the closure aims to halt any risk of the conflict spreading into Chad.
The border closure suspends all cross-border movements of goods and people, though the government noted exceptional exemptions for humanitarian reasons would still be possible.
Chad’s statement also reserved the right to retaliate against any further aggression or violation of its territory and borders.
At least nine Chadian soldiers have been killed in separate incidents near the border since December.
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting government troops for almost three years, have conducted several operations in the border region.
The wider conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and forced 11 million people from their homes, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises according to the UN.
