Chad announced the immediate closure of its border with Sudan on February 21, 2026, citing repeated incursions and the risk of the Sudanese conflict spilling over into its territory. This drastic measure follows clashes in the border town of Tina, where Sudanese paramilitaries allegedly attacked a border post, resulting in the deaths of at least six Chadian soldiers belonging to the joint security force in the area, as well as four Chadian civilians.
The Chadian government, through the Minister of Communication, Mahamat Gassim Chérif, justifies this closure by the need to prevent "any risk of the conflict expanding" from Sudan, emphasizing the desire to protect the territorial integrity and security of the Chadian population. Exceptions may be granted for strictly humanitarian reasons, after prior authorization.
A military source reported that the attack on the border post in Tina was carried out by Sudanese paramilitaries. In response to these events, a crisis meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, was held on Monday, February 23, to assess the situation and consider possible responses. The Chadian government has made it clear that it "reserves the right to respond to any aggression".
These border incidents are not isolated events. In January 2026, seven Chadian soldiers had already been killed in similar clashes, and two others died in late December 2025 during a drone strike on Chadian territory. The border closure comes amid rising regional tensions and highlights the security challenges Chad faces due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Chad already hosts over one million Sudanese refugees fleeing the civil war that began in April 2023.
