KEY POINTS
- Two Chadian soldiers were killed and another wounded in a drone attack near the Sudan border
- Security sources say the drone may have crossed from Sudan, though its operator remains unclear
- The attack comes as millions flee Sudan’s war and seek refuge through eastern Chad
Two Chadian soldiers were killed after a drone strike hit a military camp near the country’s eastern border with Sudan before dawn on Friday, according to local officials and security sources.
The attack occurred in the border town of Tine, a key transit point near Sudan, where Chadian forces maintain a security presence amid the spillover effects of the conflict across the frontier.
Hamit Hassan, prefect of the department that includes Tine, said two people were killed and one soldier was seriously wounded. He added that authorities were still working to determine who carried out the strike.
Questions over drone’s origin
A senior Chadian military intelligence officer told Reuters that preliminary assessments suggest the drone crossed into Chad from Sudan, though it remains unclear who launched it.
The officer said investigators are examining whether the aircraft belonged to Sudan’s national army or the paramilitary Rapid Support Force, both of which have been locked in a brutal conflict for more than a year.
Security forces have not ruled out retaliation if the drone is confirmed to be linked to Sudanese military operations, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Military sources added that the air force base in the eastern city of Abeche has been placed on heightened alert, while ground reinforcements have been deployed to Tine to secure the area.
Neither Sudan’s army nor the Rapid Support Force immediately responded to requests for comment.
Tine plays a critical role as a transit hub for Sudanese civilians fleeing violence. Refugees often pass through the town before relocating to camps farther inland, though humanitarian groups say limited funding has slowed those movements.
Aid agencies warn that shortages of water, sanitation facilities, and shelter at inland camps are straining already limited resources, leaving many displaced families in temporary border locations.
