In brief
In the wake of a drone attack allegedly from Sudan that resulted in 17 deaths at a mourners' gathering, Chad's President has mobilized military forces and closed the border with Sudan. The attack has heightened tensions in the region, with Chad condemning the strike as a blatant aggression against its sovereignty. Following this escalation, calls for retaliation are emerging amidst ongoing humanitarian crises caused by the conflict in Sudan.
Chad's president has ordered the military to retaliate against future attacks from Sudan following a drone attack that killed at least 17 people and injured several other people attending a funeral. Wearing military uniform, President Idris Mahamat Déby convened an emergency security meeting on Wednesday evening, where he ordered the military to be on high alert. He also ordered a 'total closure' of the border with Sudan.He described the attack targeting the border town of Tiné as 'outrageous and a blatant aggression' against Chad's territorial integrity. He said that it had happened despite warnings to the two sides battling each other in Sudan and a previous closure of the border. Last month, Chad closed its border with Sudan 'until further notice' to stop repeated incursions by Sudanese armed groups, although it allowed 'exceptional exemptions' on humanitarian grounds, with prior authorization from relevant authorities.Residents of Tiné stated that the victims of the attack were mourners, gathered at a house for a funeral ceremony that involved reading the Koran. The attack has drawn condemnation from several quarters, including from the National Assembly and MPs from the ruling party, with the government expressing deep condolences to the bereaved families.The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controls most of the western Darfur region bordering Chad, is suspected of carrying out the attack but denies involvement, blaming Sudan's army instead. The ongoing civil war in Sudan has already resulted in a humanitarian disaster, leading to thousands of deaths and displacing more than 13 million people, with nearly one million fleeing into Chad.
