A violent confrontation over land use in the village of Mandakao, in Chad’s southwest, has left 35 people dead and six others injured, according to an official statement issued Thursday.
The clash, which occurred on Wednesday in the Logone-Occidental region, is believed to have stemmed from a dispute between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers regarding the boundary between grazing areas and farmland. Local sources report that tensions had been simmering over land access and use.
Chad’s Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, Gassim Cherif Mahamat, confirmed the casualties and said security personnel were dispatched to contain the situation.
“This tragic clash caused the death of 35 people and left six wounded,” he said. “The defence and security forces intervened quickly and brought the situation under control.”
Southern Chad has seen recurring violence driven by disputes between nomadic herding groups and farming communities. These conflicts often emerge where seasonal livestock movement intersects with established farmlands, especially in areas lacking clear land tenure systems.
According to figures from the International Crisis Group, confrontations of this nature have resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and around 2,000 injuries across Chad between 2021 and 2024. Analysts attribute the ongoing tensions to the absence of effective mechanisms for conflict resolution, compounded by environmental stress and demographic pressure.
While the government has restored calm in Mandakao, no further details have been released about possible investigations or preventive measures moving forward.