Traders and residents in the Chadian border town of Tine kept markets and shops closed for a third consecutive day on Thursday, protesting the kidnapping of a Sudanese businessman and demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.
The businessman, identified only as Saddam, was reportedly abducted by unidentified armed men who demanded a ransom of 200 million Central African CFA francs for his release, according to local Sudanese media.
Sources cited by Darfur24 said the trader was subsequently freed after residents refused to pay the ransom and intensified their protests.
However, the identities of the kidnappers and the circumstances surrounding the trader’s release remain unclear.
Despite his release, demonstrators have continued their shutdown of commercial activities, demanding that Chadian security authorities investigate the incident, identify the perpetrators and ensure the safety of traders and their property.
Protesters said the closure would continue as part of efforts to pressure authorities into addressing security concerns and preventing similar incidents.
They also stressed that protecting merchants, regardless of nationality, was a shared responsibility and called for stronger cooperation between local communities and security agencies.
Demonstrators urged residents to reject ethnic and discriminatory rhetoric, warning that tensions could undermine peaceful coexistence and commercial activity in the border region.
The protests come amid broader concerns over security and economic stability along the Chad-Sudan frontier, where cross-border commerce provides an important source of income for local communities.
Tine is situated along a key route connecting Chad with Sudan’s North Darfur region. The border crossing was reactivated in September to facilitate humanitarian assistance into conflict-affected areas of Darfur.
