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The Chadian government has launched an emergency operation to move thousands of Sudanese refugees away from its eastern frontier as the military prepares for a major deployment.
This strategic relocation, which began in the Ennedi Est province, follows a deadly cross-border drone strike last week that killed 17 people on Chadian soil.
In response to the escalating violence, President Mahamat Idriss Déby has ordered the armed forces to prepare for retaliatory strikes and potential operations within Sudanese territory to secure the region.
The initial phase of the relocation involves approximately 2,300 individuals—the majority of whom are women and children—who are being moved from transit sites to safer locations further inland.
According to Saleh Tebir Souleymane of Chad’s National Commission for Refugees, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has fast-tracked these efforts to clear the area before the army fully establishes its defensive positions.
While Chad officially closed its border last month following the deaths of five soldiers, desperate civilians continue to cross the frontier to escape the intensifying civil war in Sudan.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has frequently spilt over into Chad since it began in early 2023, resulting in mounting casualties and property destruction.
Chadian authorities aim to minimise civilian risk as they transition to a more aggressive military posture by shifting the refugee population away from the immediate border zone.
This deployment marks a significant hardening of Chad’s stance as it seeks to insulate its territory from the protracted instability of its neighbour.
