Chad Mine Clashes Wound At Least 72 Troops

At least 72 Chadian soldiers wounded in clashes in a northwestern gold-mining province have been taken to hospital since fighting broke out two weeks ago, a military source confirmed on Wednesday.

Government troops have engaged in fierce clashes since October 14 across Tibesti, an arid mountain region bordering Libya and Niger that holds extensive gold reserves.

Outlining the military’s casualties, the military official stated, “Since the beginning of hostilities… the government forces report 72 wounded who have all been transferred to the military hospital in N’Djamena.”

The violent outbreak began when the Miski Self-Defence Committee attacked a government mining brigade, killing two officers and injuring nine others near the mining town of Miski.

The local militia accuses the central government of violating a 2025 peace agreement by imposing new levies on prospectors and attempting to restart mining operations in protected survey zones.

Commenting on the ongoing offensive, militia spokesperson Ahmet Molikini stated, “The situation in Miski has been very tense since fighting resumed. The army is in difficulty and has already suffered heavy human and material losses,” adding that “Miski remains under the control of the Self-Defence Committee.”

While the Chadian government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the casualties, the renewed fighting threatens the peace established under the 2025 accord. That agreement granted general amnesty to fighters on both sides and suspended all mining permits in the Miski area while authorities conducted comprehensive land surveys.