Al-Tina, March 19 (Darfur24)
The Chadian government has vowed to retaliate following a drone strike launched from Sudanese territory that hit the Tina region inside Chad on Wednesday, killing several civilians and marking a new escalation along the border.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby convened an emergency security meeting with senior military and security officials shortly after the attack, describing the incident as “a matter of national security that cannot be tolerated” and warning that Chad “will not stand idly by in the face of repeated attacks.”
He ordered the immediate deployment of defense and security forces along the border with Sudan, with instructions to respond firmly to any further attacks. He also directed the Ministers of Defense, Security, and Land Administration to travel to the site to assess the situation and determine the extent of the damage.
According to Chadian authorities, the strike is part of a pattern of cross-border incidents linked to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, despite Chad’s role as a mediator between the warring parties.
N’Djamena has accused both sides of attempting to shift the conflict onto its territory, citing the complex social ties along the border as a factor contributing to instability.
In response, the Rapid Support Forces condemned the attack, blaming the Sudanese army for carrying it out using a drone and describing it as a “blatant violation” of Chad’s sovereignty, while expressing solidarity with the Chadian government.
The incident comes amid rising tensions along the Sudan–Chad border, where recent months have seen repeated incursions and clashes tied to ongoing fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and allied groups supporting the Sudanese army.
Chad has repeatedly complained of such incidents, warning that continued cross-border violations risk further destabilizing the region.