Chad shuts border with Sudan after cross-border incursion kills its troops

Chad’s government says the border will remain ​closed until further ⁠notice, citing repeated violations by Sudan’s warring parties.Published On 23 Feb 2026Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan after clashes in recent days linked to Sudan’s civil war killed five Chadian soldiers, as the conflict spilled over into Chadian territory, two sources told the Reuters news agency.The border closure on Monday comes after a Chadian official told Reuters that clashes on Saturday between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and militia fighters loyal to Sudan’s military-backed government in the border town of Tina killed five soldiers and three civilians and wounded 12 people.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Dozens killed in RSF drone attack in war-torn Sudan’s South Kordofanlist 2 of 3Famine conditions spread to more towns in Sudan’s Darfur, experts warnlist 3 of 3UN mission finds RSF destruction in el-Fasher bears ‘hallmarks of genocide’end of listThe conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has periodically spilled over into Chadian territory, causing casualties and property damage.Chad’s government said on Monday that the border would remain closed until further notice, citing “repeated incursions and violations committed by forces in Sudan’s conflict”.The move “aims to prevent any risk of the conflict spreading to our soil, to protect our fellow citizens and refugee populations, and to guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of our country”, a government statement said.The ministry added that exceptions could be made for humanitarian purposes with prior government approval. Chad hosts nearly a million refugees from neighbouring Sudan, which descended into a civil war after a power struggle between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.A border guard officer in Tina confirmed the deaths of five soldiers and said additional security measures were needed to protect civilians on the Chadian side.