At least 42 people have been killed and 10 others injured during clashes between rival ethnic groups in eastern Chad, according to reports from BBC.
The violence erupted in Wadi Fira province following a dispute over a water well. What began as a conflict between two families quickly escalated into a wave of reprisal attacks across a wide area, leaving villages burned, the outlet reported.
Chadian authorities stated on Sunday that a government delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat, was sent to the region. Officials claim the situation has since been brought under control.
Resource competition and regional instability
Deadly communal clashes are a frequent occurrence in the central African nation. Tensions often stem from competition over grazing land and water between farmers and herders.
According to BBC, the recent influx of refugees fleeing the civil war in neighboring Sudan has further intensified competition for resources and security in the border regions.
Responding to the instability, the deputy prime minister said on Sunday that the government is taking all necessary measures to prevent the conflict in Sudan from destabilizing the border area.
This latest outbreak follows a pattern of severe violence in the country. In November, 33 people were killed during a dispute over a well in Dibebe, in the southwest.
Data from the International Crisis Group indicates a high frequency of such violence, noting that 1,000 people were killed and 2,000 injured in approximately 100 clashes between 2021 and 2024.
Amnesty International documented seven episodes of violence between herders and farmers from 2022 to 2024, resulting in 98 deaths. The rights group attributed these clashes to climate change and other underlying issues.
Amnesty International criticized the state response, stating that authorities have failed to adequately protect the population. The group noted that security force responses are often delayed, which is "fuelling a sense of impunity and marginalisation within communities."
