Water Dispute Turns D*adly In Chad As Ethnic Clashes Leave 25 D*ad, 39 Arrested

At least 25 people have been killed and 22 others injured following violent clashes between two rival ethnic communities over access to water in central Chad.

The violence reportedly erupted on Friday, October 30, 2026, in an area along the border between Hadjer-Lamis and Bahr El-Ghazal provinces, after a disagreement broke out at a pond. The Chadian government confirmed the casualty figures on Sunday, November 1.

According to a local lawmaker, the confrontation began when a Kreda herder brought his cattle to drink from the water source and became involved in a dispute with a member of the Kuka community.

The lawmaker explained that the disagreement escalated after the herder allegedly brought out a weapon and shot the Kuka community member in the foot, triggering an exchange of gunfire between members of the two communities.

The resulting violence left 22 people injured, who were subsequently taken to a hospital in Ngoura for treatment.

A local official disclosed that security personnel had made significant progress in restoring order to the affected area. The Ministry of Territorial Administration also announced that 39 people had been arrested and transferred to the capital, N’Djamena, in connection with the incident.

In response to the violence, a government delegation comprising several ministers visited the affected communities on Saturday, October 31, as part of efforts to restore peace and prevent further escalation.

The ministry said the visit was aimed at protecting residents, encouraging dialogue and ensuring that the disagreement did not develop into further violence.

Chad has continued to experience recurring clashes between communities, often linked to disputes over access to water, farmland and grazing areas.

The United Nations has identified the country as one of the African nations particularly vulnerable to climate change, while access to safe water remains a major challenge. UN figures indicate that fewer than 10 per cent of households had reliable access to safe running water in 2024.

The latest violence comes months after another deadly incident in eastern Chad in April, when a dispute over a water well reportedly claimed 44 lives and left 10 others injured.