Chad says a strike on a border fuel market killed 12, opening a new front in the Sudan war fallout
Chad says a strike near the Sudan border hit a fuel market used by the RSF, killing 12 and wounding seven.
A deadly strike near the Chad Sudan border has pushed tensions higher between the two neighbours. Chad says the Sudanese army carried out the attack, while Sudan says the accusation came before any independent investigation.
At least 12 people were killed in an air strike near Chad’s border with Sudan, according to Chadian officials, who blamed the Sudanese army for the attack.
A Chadian security source said the strike hit a fuel market where the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, refuel. The same source said 12 people were killed and seven others were wounded.
The allegation lands in the middle of Sudan’s war between the army and the RSF, a conflict that has lasted more than three years and forced millions of people from their homes.
What both sides are saying
Sudan said it was surprised by the allegation against its army before what it called a professional and independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
In a statement, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said its forces were carrying out what it described as their constitutional duty to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and safety. It also said the army respects the sovereignty of neighbouring states and does not target their territory.
The accusation from Chad also comes after another claimed strike on its territory. Chad previously said Sudan was responsible for an air strike that hit a military convoy inside Chad last week.
According to Chad’s army, those strikes happened more than 100km inside Chadian territory in the eastern Ennedi region. It said there were no Chadian casualties in that incident.
The US embassy in Khartoum also accused the Sudanese army of launching the recent strikes on Chad and condemned them.
Why the border is under pressure
Security concerns in the area have already been growing. A security source said Chad raised its alert level in response to threats posed by drones.
A local source said Chad deployed about 100 armoured vehicles and signal jamming trucks near eastern Tine, close to the Sudanese border.
Relations have also been strained by claims tied to Sudan’s wider war. The Sudanese army has previously accused Chad of being aligned with the RSF.
At the same time, Chad has become a major refuge for people escaping the fighting. Nearly one million displaced Sudanese people have fled there, where many are also facing a water crisis.
That leaves the latest strike as more than a single border incident. It is another sign of how Sudan’s war is spilling into neighbouring Chad, where the humanitarian and security pressure is already severe.
Why border fuel markets matter
Fuel markets near borders are often more than just places to buy petrol or diesel. They can be key supply points for transport, farming, generators, water pumps and small businesses, especially in remote areas where formal infrastructure is limited. Traders may bring fuel across long distances, and prices can change fast when roads close, checkpoints appear or supply chains break down.
These markets also tend to attract crowds, vehicles and stored fuel, which makes them busy but risky places. Even without fighting nearby, fire, panic and shortages can turn a routine stop into a dangerous one.
How conflict spills across borders
Wars rarely stay neatly contained. When fighting intensifies, nearby countries can feel the effects through refugees, disrupted trade, armed groups moving through remote areas and competition over fuel, food and transport routes. Border zones are especially exposed because they are often hard to police consistently and rely on cross border commerce for everyday life.
Fuel becomes strategically important during conflict because it keeps vehicles moving and powers homes, clinics and communications when electricity is unreliable. That can make fuel routes, depots and markets more sensitive than they appear.
What people can do to stay safer
If you live in or travel through a tense border area, avoid lingering at fuel queues, depots and crowded markets longer than necessary. Fill up earlier in the day if possible, keep some cash and water with you, and plan an alternative route in case roads close suddenly.
Follow local radio, phone alerts and trusted community sources for changes to road access or curfews. Keep identity documents, medicines, chargers and a small emergency bag ready. If mobile networks are patchy, agree on a check in plan with family before travelling.
