Monday, February 23, 2026 l Dalena News Desk
N’DJAMENA, CHAD — The government of Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan indefinitely, citing repeated incursions and clashes linked to Sudan’s protracted civil war that have spilled into Chadian territory and claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians.
In a statement on Monday, Chadian Communications Minister Mahamat Gassim Cherif said the decision to shut the Chad–Sudan frontier was intended to halt any further risk of the long-running conflict spilling over and destabilising security in Chad. The closure affects key border points, including the strategically important Tiné crossing in eastern Chad.
The crisis stems from clashes between the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and government loyalists, which erupted in April 2023 and have since produced one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands.
Chadian authorities were particularly alarmed by recent fighting near the border town of Tiné, where at least five Chadian soldiers and three civilians were reportedly killed in clashes involving armed groups tied to Sudan’s civil conflict, according to local security sources. Additional casualties and injuries were reported as tensions flared in the area during weekend engagements.
“With these repeated violations of our territory by armed forces and militia groups engaged in the conflict in Sudan, we must take every measure to protect our citizens, refugees and territorial integrity,” the government said. It also announced the deployment of extra troops to reinforce frontier defences and maintain order.
Refugee camps along the border have faced heightened strain in recent weeks, with humanitarian agencies warning that fresh fighting could disrupt relief operations and further imperil vulnerable populations already displaced by the war in Sudan. The UN has repeatedly described the conflict as one of the most disastrous humanitarian emergencies globally.
The Sudanese government and RSF have not publicly responded to Chad’s border closure announcement. However, the move underscores growing concerns among neighbouring countries about the conflict’s regional implications as armed groups continue to operate near international frontiers.
Chad’s action reflects broader efforts by Sahel and Central African states to prevent conflicts from destabilising their own territories, even as diplomatic and regional security initiatives attempt to mediate cross-border tensions rooted in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.