Seven Chadian soldiers lost their lives in a recent clash at the border with Sudan, prompting government officials to pin the incident on fighters associated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During a press conference, Chadian government spokesman Gassim Cherif described the event as an “incursion” by armed groups from Sudan, which escalated into a confrontation when Chadian troops attempted to repel them.
According to additional sources within the Chad government, the combatants involved are identified as elements of the RSF, a paramilitary group entrenched in a bitter civil war against the Sudanese army. This conflict has resulted in a staggering death toll estimated in the tens of thousands, with roughly 12 million people displaced since the fighting erupted in April 2023. The United Nations reports that around one million refugees from Sudan have sought asylum in Chad.
The situation along the border has been increasingly volatile. Just a few weeks earlier, on December 26, two Chadian soldiers died from a drone attack believed to have been carried out by the RSF.
Cherif provided details about the latest clash, which occurred near the border city of Tine. He conveyed a strong message, urging all parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to cease any violations of Chadian territory, labeling the warning as the nation’s “final” notice. “We cannot have our defence and security forces dragged into this conflict… or Chadians dying,” he asserted.
In response to the violence, the United Arab Emirates has condemned the attack. However, they refrained from directly blaming the RSF. The paramilitary group has reportedly conducted several assaults near the Chadian border since raising its profile in October by capturing the city of El-Fasher, marking a significant territorial gain against the Sudanese army in the Darfur region. This offensive has triggered widespread international condemnation, amid troubling reports of mass killings, summary executions, and systematic sexual violence associated with RSF actions.
