Clashes between the Chadian army and the Movement for Peace, Reconciliation and Development (MPRD) rebel group have resulted in at least six fatalities in southern Chad, according to reports from both factions on Wednesday.
The violence erupted on Tuesday morning in the Korbol area of the Moyen-Chari region. The Chadian army reported that three of its soldiers were killed and ten more injured during the confrontation. Conversely, MPRD leader Luc Beyam Bebha reported that his forces suffered three fatalities, referring to them as “martyrs,” along with two additional fighters wounded in the clashes.
Chad has been under the leadership of the same family for over three decades, with the late president Idriss Deby at the helm followed by his son, Mahamat Deby. The country frequently experiences turbulent rebel offensives, some of which have reached the capital city, N’Djamena.
The recent hostilities are said to have erupted when an army column attempted to approach MPRD positions and was met with an ambush, as explained by Remadji Hoinathy, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). He noted that the military had been augmenting its presence in the region, which shares a border with the Central African Republic.
Tensions have escalated as the MPRD claimed that the army issued an ultimatum on Sunday, demanding the group surrender. Established in 2003 in southern Chad, the MPRD has articulated a clear objective: to dismantle the current governing structure.
Mahamat Deby ascended to the position of transitional president following the death of his father at the hands of rebels in 2021. He later participated in contested elections in 2024, which were boycotted by significant portions of the opposition.
