MARKET STRUCTURE · REGULATORY · GLOBAL
Chad closes its eastern border with Sudan after cross-border fighting
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Chad closed its eastern border with Sudan “until further notice” on Monday, citing repeated incursions by Sudanese armed groups after fighting erupted in the border town of al-Tina.
Why it matters
Chad’s decision to shut the border is a binding restriction on cross-border movement, triggered by heavy fighting in al-Tina between Sudan’s RSF and local fighters aligned with the Sudanese army. Authorities framed the move as a security precaution to prevent conflict spillover and protect citizens and refugee communities, amid reports of militants crossing into Chad. The border is also a major entry point for humanitarian workers and convoys into Sudan, so the closure can disrupt established logistics and access pathways. With nearly a million Sudanese having crossed into Chad since the 2023 outbreak of civil war, the measure also tightens the operating environment for refugee flows and related support services. The “until further notice” framing creates an open-ended timing constraint for planning and coordination.
Implications
- • Cross-border movement between Chad and Sudan is restricted with no stated end date.
- • Humanitarian access routes via Chad into Sudan face immediate disruption risk.
- • Refugee transit and border-area support operations face tighter constraints.
- • Border-area security risk is elevated due to reported armed-group incursions.
Who is affected
- • Humanitarian NGOs and UN agencies running cross-border aid convoys
- • Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers attempting to cross into Chad
- • Chadian border communities and local authorities in eastern Chad
- • Logistics operators and contractors supporting aid and border-region supply chains
Source
Topics
World & Politics Conflicts Human Rights Business & Markets Supply Chain & Logistics