Chad has ordered a “total closure” of its border with Sudan following a deadly drone attack that killed at least 17 people and injured several others during a funeral in the border town of Tiné.
President Idris Mahamat Déby, dressed in military uniform, convened an emergency security meeting on Wednesday, placing the armed forces on high alert and directing them to respond decisively to any further attacks. He described the strike as “outrageous” and a clear violation of Chad’s territorial integrity, noting that it occurred despite prior warnings to the warring factions in Sudan and an earlier border closure.
Chad had last month shut its frontier with Sudan “until further notice” in response to repeated incursions by armed groups, while still allowing limited humanitarian access under strict authorization.
Residents of Tiné said the victims were mourners gathered for a funeral, reportedly engaged in Quranic recitations when the drone strike occurred.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, including from Chad’s National Assembly and ruling party lawmakers. In a statement, the government expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Authorities also confirmed that security forces have been reinforced, adding that Chad reserves the right to act within Sudanese territory in line with international law.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controls much of the Darfur region bordering Chad, has been accused of carrying out the attack. However, the group denied involvement and instead blamed Sudan’s army, which has yet to respond.
Tensions between both countries remain high, with Sudan previously accusing Chad of backing the RSF—an allegation N’Djamena has consistently denied.
Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war since April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between the army and the RSF. The conflict has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced over 13 million people, including nearly one million who have fled into Chad, according to the United Nations.
With Chad now vowing retaliation, concerns are mounting over a potential escalation of violence along the volatile 1,400-kilometre border shared by the two nations.
