In brief
Intercommunal clashes broke out along the western border of Chad, killing 25 and injuring 22 as reported by Xinhua. The government deployed a delegation led by the Minister of Public Security, arrested 39 suspects, and pledged to investigate and promote dialogue between the communities.
At least 25 people were killed and 22 others injured in intercommunal clashes that erupted Saturday at the border of Chad's western provinces of Hadjer‑Lamis and Barh el Gazel, Xinhua reported. The violent incidents unfolded amid a long history of tensions between local communities along the frontier.
The western provinces lie along Chad’s western frontier with Niger and are home to dozens of nomadic and sedentary groups that frequently compete for grazing land and grazing rights during the dry season. Local leaders say the conflict began after a disputed water point attracted cattle from both communities.
At least 25 individuals lost their lives, and 22 people were wounded, according to officials. Police reports noted that several victims were shot while fleeing from the skirmish lines, and many others sustained injuries from stray bullets fired during the clashes. The authorities are still tallying the casualties, and medical teams have been dispatched to the surrounding villages.
The government dispatched a delegation headed by Minister of Public Security and Immigration Ali Ahmat Aghabach to the affected area on Monday. The delegation’s purpose is to investigate the clashes, establish responsibility, and to ensure that judicial processes proceed without interference for future stability.
In a statement posted on social media, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization said the clashes involved two 'sister communities'. The ministry emphasized that both groups had a longstanding relationship and that the violence had deeply disrupted tribal cooperation in the region, and threatened to repeat the cycle again.
Officials plan to hold judicial proceedings against the arrested individuals and to investigate the root causes of the conflict. The ministers said they would also engage local elders and community leaders to foster dialogue and restore trust between the communities in the affected villages, to prevent further tensions and ensure lasting peace.
The Ministry of Infrastructure had earlier warned that recurrent intercommunal clashes create instability and can disrupt regional trade routes that link Chad to neighboring countries. The current clash coincides with a period of drought, adding pressure for scarcity of resources such as water and arable land in the northwest region.
The international community has called on the Chadian government to intervene promptly and deescalate the tensions. Human rights organizations expressed concern over civilian casualties and the need for impartial investigations into any abuses committed by security forces during the clashes to protect vulnerable populations and preserve social cohesion for future.
Within the delegation, the Minister Ali Ahmat Aghabach stressed the importance of a swift, transparent investigation. He added that the government would seek mediation through regional organizations such as the African Union and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) to facilitate future reconciliation and prevent recurrence of conflict.
The Chadian Ministry of Interior said the investigation would focus on identifying leaders who incited the violence and would review security forces' conduct. The ministry also pledged to improve community-based conflict prevention mechanisms and to enhance early warning systems around water and pasture resources in affected communities to build resilience.
Chiefs of the two communities met with the delegation in an effort to calm tensions. According to local accounts, the meeting included a symbolic exchange of food and water supplies, aiming to show goodwill and reduce mistrust that has been building for weeks in the region and promote peaceful cooperation.
A spokesperson for the Chadian security apparatus said the government would cooperate with the International Criminal Court if evidence emerged of war crimes. The spokesperson, while reiterating police accountability, called for solidarity among all Chadian citizens to support national unity and collective resilience through times of conflict in the future.
