Intercommunal Clash in Eastern Chad Claims 42 Lives

At least 42 people have been killed in eastern Chad following violent clashes triggered by a dispute over access to water, authorities have confirmed.

The deadly incident occurred in the village of Igote in Wadi Fira province, near the Sudanese border, where what began as a disagreement between individuals over a water point escalated into broader communal violence.

According to government officials, the confrontation quickly spiraled into cycles of retaliation between families and ethnic groups, leaving at least 42 people dead and about 10 others injured.

Chad’s Deputy Prime Minister, Limane Mahamat, said security forces were deployed to contain the situation, adding that the military has since restored calm in the affected area. Authorities have also initiated mediation efforts alongside legal proceedings to prevent further escalation.

Officials noted that such conflicts are not uncommon in eastern Chad, where tensions between farmers and nomadic herders frequently erupt over scarce resources like water and grazing land.

The situation has been further strained by the influx of refugees fleeing ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, placing additional pressure on already limited resources in the region.

The government has pledged to take necessary steps to stabilize the region and prevent a recurrence of the violence.