Clashes between herders and farmers in southern Chad resulted in the deaths of 23 individuals in late March, according to Chad’s communications minister, Abdraman Koulamallah.
The violence, which occurred in the fertile region of Moyen-Chari, was triggered by the killing of a nomadic Arab-speaking herder. Relatives and clan members from the northern part of the country, where the deceased hailed from, launched a retaliatory attack on the village they believed was responsible for the ambush.
Koulamallah reported that calm has since been restored. The clashes, spanning from March 17 to 21 and extending to two other villages, claimed the lives of nine Arab herders and 14 from the local Sara-Kaba community, including women and children. Authorities have arrested 21 individuals, with investigations underway to identify those responsible for the violence.
In eastern and southern Chad, conflicts between herders and farmers are common, often stemming from disputes over land use. These clashes occur primarily in areas where vegetation supports both agriculture and livestock grazing.
Similar tensions exist in neighboring countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria, where fertile regions intersect with the arid Sahel belt.
