Chad Closes Eastern Border With Sudan After Clashes Kill Soldiers

Monday 23rd February 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan after weekend clashes linked to Sudan’s civil war killed five Chadian soldiers, two sources told Reuters, in a move that underscores how Sudan’s conflict is straining neighbouring states’ security and border management.

The closure affects a long, porous frontier that has carried trade, humanitarian flows and civilian movement for years. It also sits along routes used by displaced people and informal traders, meaning even a temporary shutdown can quickly tighten local markets for food, fuel and household goods in border towns.

The reported deaths add to a growing pattern of spillover incidents around Sudan’s western and southern approaches, where armed actors, militias and cross-border traders operate in areas with limited state presence. Sudan’s war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and disrupted governance across large swathes of territory, creating security vacuums that can expand beyond Sudan’s borders.

Chad has hosted large numbers of Sudanese refugees over the past year, and its authorities have repeatedly warned about the security risks that come with mass displacement, including weapons proliferation, cross-border raids, and competition over scarce resources in receiving areas. Border closures are one of the few rapid tools available to states trying to contain insecurity when incidents escalate, though they also carry economic and humanitarian costs.

A border shutdown can complicate humanitarian logistics. Aid agencies often rely on predictable crossings to move food, medical supplies and shelter items into displacement areas. When crossings close, agencies may need to reroute through longer corridors, increasing transport costs and delaying deliveries, particularly during periods of high need.

The decision also has diplomatic implications. Border moves can signal heightened alert and can trigger coordination requests between security agencies, including shared patrols, intelligence exchange and deconfliction measures to reduce further incidents.