At least 42 people were killed in eastern Chad after a clash between two families over a water point escalated into a spiral of reprisals, the country's deputy prime minister said Sunday night.
Limane Mahamat, during a visit to the village of Igote in Wadi Fira province, near the border with Sudan , where clashes took place on Saturday, indicated that 42 people had been killed and 10 wounded. He specified that the wounded had been evacuated to the provincial health center.
Mr. Mahamat indicated that the spiral of reprisals had spread over a fairly large area, necessitating the intervention of the army. He added that the military's "swift response" had contained the clashes and that the situation was now "under control" .
The Deputy Prime Minister announced the launch of a "customary mediation" process in the village as well as legal proceedings aimed at determining criminal responsibilities.
Intercommunal clashes over resources are frequent in this Central African country. Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 dead and several houses burned down.
Limane Mahamat said the government would take "all necessary measures" to prevent destabilization of the border area, where the clashes took place.
Sudanese refugees
For several months, the eastern provinces of Chad have been hosting refugees fleeing the war in Sudan and are facing increasing pressure on their resources and security. Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have flocked to Chad since the start of the conflict.
In February, Chad closed its border with Sudan "until further notice" , justifying this measure by the desire to limit the spread of the conflict on its territory after multiple crossings by fighters belonging to the warring Sudanese factions.
The war in Sudan has claimed more than 40,000 lives, according to United Nations figures, but humanitarian organizations estimate that the real number could be several times higher.
The conflict has triggered the world's largest humanitarian crisis , with more than 14 million people forced to flee their homes. It has also fueled disease outbreaks and plunged parts of Sudan into famine.
