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Deadly clashes erupt in southern Chad as army battles MPRD fighters in Moyen Chari

January 16, 2026

Deadly fighting has broken out in southern Chad, where government forces have clashed with fighters from the Movement for Peace, Reconstruction and Development (MPRD) in Korbol, a locality in Moyen Chari Province.

The confrontations, which began on January 13, 2026, have left a toll of several dead people and others wounded on both sides, according to security and local sources. The violence marks a fresh escalation in tensions between the Chadian authorities and the armed group.

In a statement issued on January 16, the United Arab Emirates condemned what it described as “criminal acts” linked to the unrest. The UAE reaffirmed its rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism, warning against actions that threaten security and stability.

https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/1/16/UAE-Chad

Chad’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said it deployed troops to Korbol to restore order and protect civilians. Military officials accused armed groups of carrying out repeated disturbances and abuses against local populations, prompting the security operation.

The MPRD, a group historically active in the region however, offered a different account. Ahead of the clashes, the group warned against the deployment of government forces, accusing authorities of preparing a military confrontation. It also claimed the government had abandoned dialogue efforts and issued ultimatums demanding that its fighters disarm.

Djinodji SOLMENGAR

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.

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