Southern Chad was the scene of deadly fighting on January 13. After the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum imposed by the government, regular forces and rebels from the Movement for Peace, Reconstruction and Development (MPRD) clashed in the town of Korbol .

A human cost on both sides

According to official sources and representatives of the armed group, the provisional death toll stands at at least six:

1. Chadian army: 3 dead and 10 wounded (press release of January 14).
2. MPRD: 3 “martyrs” and 2 wounded, according to Luc Beyam Bebha, secretary general of the movement.

Timeline and strategy

The outbreak of hostilities follows a massive military buildup observed in recent days, particularly around the town of Sahr , near the border with the Central African Republic.

1. January 11: N'Djamena sends an ultimatum to the MPRD, demanding the surrender of arms within 48 hours.
2. January 13: An army column attempts an approach to rebel positions in Korbol.
3. The ambush: According to Remadji Honaithy, a researcher at the ISS, government troops fell into a trap set by the insurgents during their advance.

The MPRD: Armed struggle as the only recourse

Founded in 2003, the MPRD remains committed to a hard line. For this group, whose stated objective is the overthrow of the current government, political change can only be achieved by force.

This new outbreak of violence is a reminder of Chad’s fragile security situation, regularly confronted with rebel incursions that sometimes threaten the stability of the capital.