Khartoum… N’Djamena… Border Tensions
Report by: Samia Ibrahim
The Chadian government has announced the closure of its border with Sudan, fearing the spread of the conflict into its territory.
A letter — a copy of which was obtained by Brown Land — stated: “The Chadian public and the international community are hereby informed that the border between Chad and Sudan is closed as of this date until further notice.”
The government attributed the decision to violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, citing repeated incursions into Chadian territory and the need to protect its citizens and refugee populations residing there.
The Chadian government has closed all border crossing points related to the movement of people and goods between the two countries, though special exceptions may be granted for humanitarian reasons following prior authorization from the competent authorities.
The letter added that, in accordance with international law, the government of Chad reserves its right to respond to any aggression or violation of its territorial integrity and borders.
The government called on residents of the affected areas to remain calm and vigilant, respect the decision, and directed administrative and military authorities to ensure its strict enforcement.
The Tina area in North Darfur, along the border with Chad, has witnessed an escalation in military clashes. The RSF previously issued a statement claiming control over the area, while joint forces allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces denied the RSF’s claim of controlling Tina and confirmed they had repelled the attack.
According to observers, Chad’s closure decision came following reports that the RSF had recruited fighters from Chad to support its war against the Sudanese army. The former Chadian Minister of Defense had previously confirmed that the RSF recruited 1,137 young Chadian men to fight alongside it. The RSF swiftly denied this entirely, insisting it had no need for fighters or mercenaries.
Writer and political analyst Khaled Al-Tajani told Brawan Land that the immediate trigger for Chad’s border closure was the recent events in Tina — a border region characterized by deep social and demographic overlap between the two countries. He noted that the RSF’s recent attack on Tina and its aftermath caused clashes to spill into the border area, expanding until the army and joint forces reclaimed the territory.
Al-Tajani warned that given the nature of the intertwined populations on both sides of the border, there is a real possibility of the war crossing from Sudan into Chad itself — particularly since Chad has, over the past three years, served as a primary transit route for the RSF for weapons and mercenaries. He described this as a worrying and notable development for the Chadian authorities, adding: “I don’t know whether simply closing the border will be sufficient to contain this impact, given that the entire matter is tied to what is happening inside Sudan.”
Al-Tajani further noted that Chad is attentive to key crossing points — particularly through Adré — within the context of international discussions about the humanitarian situation and the need to establish safe corridors, making the closure an additional obstacle to aid delivery.
He concluded that the situation is not without complexities, and that the external aggression against Sudan now extends along both the Ethiopian front and the presence of an RSF camp on the Chad-Ethiopia border.
Minni Arko Minnawi, President of the Sudan Liberation Army movement and Governor of Darfur Region, condemned the attack in statements, describing it as the targeting of unarmed civilians on an ethnic and racial basis, and affirming that the attack confirms the militia’s intent to displace certain tribes from Darfur.
The Tina area holds significant strategic importance due to its location along the Sudan-Chad border strip, making it a pivotal point in the military conflict and regional balance. Tina is one of two crossings designated by the Sudanese government for the entry of humanitarian and relief aid from Chad into Darfur, and is considered a vital lifeline for delivering food and medicine to civilians amid the ongoing crisis.
