25 people killed in intercommunal clashes in Ngoura department, Chad

At least 25 people were killed and 22 others injured in intercommunal clashes in the Ngoura area, located in Chad's western Hadjer-Lamis province, according to a statement from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation.

The violence erupted between two communities along the border between Hadjer-Lamis and Barh El Gazel provinces on Friday, October 30, 2026. Local officials reported that the fighting began after a dispute over access to water at a pond used for livestock. A local lawmaker stated that an argument between a herder and a member of another community escalated into an exchange of gunfire, leaving 22 wounded who were transported to a hospital in Ngoura .

The government has deployed a delegation led by Public Security and Immigration Minister Ali Ahmat Akhabach to the area. Authorities have arrested 39 individuals in connection with the violence and transferred them to the capital, N'Djamena, for judicial proceedings. The ministry has pledged to conduct a full investigation and promote dialogue between the communities to restore calm .

This incident marks the third deadly clash over water resources in the region within twelve months. In November 2025, at least 33 people were killed near Ngoura in a similar dispute over a well .