ADDIS ABABA – The African Union warned that Sudan’s war could spill into neighboring countries after reports of airstrikes inside Chadian territory, urging all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further cross-border escalation.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed concern over reports that airstrikes were carried out on August 20 in Chad’s Ennedi-Est region, near the border with Sudan, against the backdrop of Sudan’s ongoing war.
Youssouf reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of its member states, stressing the principle of the inviolability of borders.
He called on all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid actions that could raise tensions between neighboring states, and take the necessary measures to prevent the war in Sudan from extending beyond its borders.
The AU statement came after tensions rose between Sudan and Chad following reported airstrikes inside Chadian territory. Chad’s army accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out an attack on a convoy more than 100 kilometers inside Chad, though it did not identify the nature of the convoy or say who it belonged to.
Before the Chadian accusation, Chadian activists circulated videos they said showed a military convoy affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) being hit by airstrikes inside Chad. Sudan Now could not independently verify the videos, the identity of the convoy or the aircraft involved.
The Sudan-Chad border has become one of the most sensitive regional fronts of Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the SAF and the RSF. Chad shares a long border with Darfur and hosts large numbers of Sudanese refugees who fled violence, while Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused Chadian territory of being used as a route for RSF fighters, weapons and logistical supplies. Chad denies supporting any party to the war.
Youssouf stressed the need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation among countries in the region to prevent cross-border incidents, improve security along shared borders and reduce the risk of wider regional escalation.
He said the AU Commission was ready to support concerned countries in any initiatives aimed at de-escalation, preventing new incidents and preserving peace and stability in the region.
The ambiguity surrounding the convoy’s identity and the circumstances of the reported strikes has increased the sensitivity of the incident. Any confirmed cross-border military action would mark a serious escalation in the regional impact of Sudan’s war and could further strain relations between Khartoum and N’Djamena.
The AU warning reflects growing concern that continued fighting, refugee flows, cross-border armed movements and alleged external support networks could draw neighboring countries more directly into Sudan’s conflict.
