South Sudan and Chad have strongly condemned threats made by a senior Sudanese general, which they warn could escalate tensions in the region.
On Sunday evening, Sudan’s Assistant Deputy Commander-in-Chief, General Yasir al-Atta, declared that Chad’s airports in N’Djamena and Amdjarass were “legitimate military targets” and accused South Sudan of sheltering “traitors.”
South Sudan responded on Monday, calling the remarks a “blatant violation of international law,” while reaffirming its commitment to peace but warning it would take necessary steps to defend its sovereignty.
Chad, in its own statement on Sunday, said Atta’s comments “could be interpreted as a declaration of war” and pledged a “firm and proportionate” response to any attack.
The tensions come amid escalating Sudanese accusations that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has supplied drones to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese group opposing Sudan’s army in a nearly two-year-old war.
Sudan also alleges that some RSF operations were launched from Chad, leading Khartoum to take the matter to the U.N. Security Council and the International Court of Justice.
The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the RSF, has displaced millions and strained Sudan’s relations with its neighbors. Despite mediation efforts by Chad and South Sudan, Sudanese military leaders have increasingly accused these countries of supporting the RSF.