Chad has accused Sudanese forces or their allies of carrying out air and drone strikes against a convoy deep inside Chadian territory, raising fears that Sudan’s three-year civil war could further destabilize the region. The Chadian army said the attack occurred on Thursday, August 20, in the Mourdi area of East Ennedi province, more than 100 kilometers inside Chad from the Sudanese border. According to the military, aircraft and drones believed to belong to Sudanese forces or their supporters pursued and bombed a convoy after it crossed into Chad.
Chadian authorities said no casualties among Chadian civilians had been reported from the incident. The army has nevertheless placed its forces on high alert and warned all parties involved in Sudan’s conflict against extending military operations into Chadian territory. It said Chad reserves the right to defend its sovereignty. The Sudanese military has not publicly accepted responsibility for the reported strike. Sudan has repeatedly accused Chad of allowing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to receive supplies and personnel through its territory, allegations Chad and the United Arab Emirates have denied.
The latest incident comes amid growing military activity along the Chad-Sudan border. A drone attack in eastern Chad last month reportedly injured civilians and damaged vehicles and shops, while previous incidents have also raised concerns about the conflict spilling across the border. Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has killed and displaced large numbers of people and pushed hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees into neighboring Chad. The alleged strike deep inside Chad adds another layer of risk to an already fragile border region, where N’Djamena is seeking to prevent Sudan’s conflict from becoming a wider regional confrontation.
