**Title: Chad Accuses Sudan of Conducting Cross-Border Airstrikes Amid Ongoing Civil Conflict**
Chad has raised serious allegations against parties involved in Sudan's civil war, claiming that airstrikes have been carried out deep within its territory. The Chadian Armed Forces issued a statement on Saturday, warning that the ongoing conflict in Sudan poses a significant risk of spilling over into Chad.
According to the military's report, aircraft and drones, believed to belong to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) or their allied forces, targeted a convoy of vehicles on Thursday. The strikes reportedly began on Sudanese soil but extended more than 100 kilometers into Chad, reaching the Mourdi department in the eastern Ennedi-Est province.
Following the incident, the Chadian military conducted aerial and ground assessments to confirm the extent of the incursion. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported among Chadian forces or civilians, but the military condemned the airstrikes as a violation of Chad's territorial integrity.
In response to the incident, Chad has issued a stern warning to the warring factions in Sudan, emphasizing that its defense and security forces are on high alert and ready to respond to any threats to national security. As of now, there has been no official response from Sudanese authorities regarding the allegations made by Chad.
The conflict in Sudan has been ongoing since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This turmoil followed a prolonged power struggle between army generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as 'Hemedti', which was initially centered around a planned transition to civilian governance. The conflict has resulted in significant devastation across Sudan, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people.
Efforts to mediate the crisis, including initiatives led by the African Union and talks facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah, have repeatedly stalled. Sudanese officials have alleged that mercenaries from Colombia and Ukraine are supporting the RSF against the national army. Additionally, accusations have been directed at Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates regarding their involvement in the conflict, while Sudanese authorities have expressed skepticism about the European Union's understanding of the complex situation in Sudan.
The deteriorating situation has also led to regional tensions, with Sudan accusing Kenya of supporting the RSF and subsequently severing ties with the East African regional grouping IGAD due to a lack of trust in their mediation efforts. In July, a political coalition aligned with the RSF, known as TASIS, announced the establishment of a rival government, appointing Gen. Dagalo as chairman of a newly formed presidential council. This move has been met with rejection from both the United Nations and the African Union.
The recent airstrikes are not the first instance of violence spilling over the Sudan-Chad border. In July, a drone from Sudan struck the eastern Chadian border town of Tine, injuring two children and causing damage to vehicles and shops. Earlier in March, a drone strike from Sudan resulted in the deaths of at least 17 individuals in Tine, including mourners attending a funeral. In the wake of that attack, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the violence and ordered military action against any future strikes originating from Sudan, regardless of whether they were conducted by the SAF or the RSF.
In February, Chad had already closed its eastern border with Sudan following clashes that resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and three civilians, with at least a dozen others injured in the violence, which was attributed to confrontations between the SAF and RSF.
As the situation continues to evolve, Chad's military remains vigilant, prepared to defend its territory against any further incursions from the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, as the potential for escalation poses significant risks not only to Chad but to the broader region.