PAKU MEDIA, GUEREDA – Bloody clashes between ethnic groups have again rocked the eastern region of Chad. At least 42 people were reported killed in the incident that occurred on Saturday (25/4/2026) in Guereda sub-prefecture, precisely in Wadi Fira Province.
According to reports quoted from AFP, the conflict was triggered by a dispute regarding access to well water, a vital resource in an area often hit by drought.
This struggle quickly escalated into open violence which claimed a large number of lives.
Government Response
Following the escalation of the situation, the central government moved quickly by sending a number of high-ranking officials, including ministers and military representatives, to the scene.
Deputy Prime Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Limane Mahamat, stated that the current conditions had been successfully controlled.
“The situation is under control and remains so,” he said in an official statement on national television.
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Old Conflicts Are Heating Up Again
The eastern region of Chad is known as a conflict-prone area. Tensions often exist between settled farming communities and nomadic pastoralist groups, especially regarding access to land and water sources.
The situation is increasingly complex with the influx of refugees from Sudan who fled the armed conflict in their country. Pressure on limited resources is increasing.
Alarming Records of Violence
The International Crisis Group noted that agrarian conflicts in this region have claimed large victims in recent years. Between 2021 and 2024, more than 1,000 people died and around 2,000 others were injured as a result of similar clashes.
These latest events reiterate that resource-based conflicts in the region are far from resolved. Without comprehensive handling, the potential for similar violence is expected to continue to recur in the future.***
