{"id":46453,"date":"2025-03-24T12:44:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/chad-condemns-sudans-airport-threat-as-declaration-of-war\/24\/03\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-03-24T12:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:44:42","slug":"chad-condemns-sudans-airport-threat-as-declaration-of-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/chad-condemns-sudans-airport-threat-as-declaration-of-war\/24\/03\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Chad condemns Sudan’s airport threat as ‘declaration of war’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chad has condemned a senior Sudanese general’s threat to target its airports, calling it a “declaration of war.”<\/p>\n
Its foreign ministry said it would respond according to international law if a “square metre of Chadian territory is threatened”.<\/p>\n
The warning follows comments from Lt-Gen Yasir al-Atta, the deputy commander of Sudan’s army, who said the UAE was using Chad’s airports to deliver weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).<\/p>\n
The Sudanese army has repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting its rival, the RSF, throughout the brutal two-year civil war, which has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
UN experts have described accusations of the UAE smuggling weapons to the RSF through Chad as “credible”, but the UAE has denied this.<\/p>\n
Lt-Gen Atta’s comments follow Sudan’s recent decision to take the UAE to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its alleged support of the RSF.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a ceremony for an army officer killed in a drone attack by the RSF on Friday while the army was recapturing the presidential palace, he said airports in Chad’s capital N’Djamena and the eastern city Amdjarass were “legitimate targets”.<\/p>\n
Lt-Gen Atta said “retaliatory action” would be taken against the UAE, South Sudan and Chad’s President Mahamat D\u00e9by.<\/p>\n
South Sudan has also been accused of backing the RSF. It has denied backing any side in the conflict.<\/p>\n
“We know what we are saying, and our words are not a joke at all, nor are they spoken lightly,” Lt-Gen Atta warned.<\/p>\n
The BBC has reached out to Sudan’s authorities for clarification on his comments.<\/p>\n
His comments reflect the Sudanese army’s deep frustration with not only the UAE, but neighbouring countries, accused of allowing their territory to be used as supply routes for the RSF.<\/p>\n
In December, Sudan’s defence ministry said that the weapons supplied included strategic drones that carry guided missiles.<\/p>\n
Chad has positioned itself as neutral, but the war of words exposes the growing regional instability caused by Sudan’s civil war, which is complicated by the involvement of external players.<\/p>\n
“General al-Atta should stop uttering foolish threats and focus on the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and engage without delay in a constructive dialogue in favour of a peaceful and lasting solution,” said Chad, highlighting that it is hosting hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees, mostly from the neighbouring region of Darfur, which is largely under RSF control.<\/p>\n
The harsh exchange came as the RSF claimed to have seized al-Malha in Darfur, a town located on a vital trade route from Chad and Libya.<\/p>\n
It also serves as a key crossroads leading to el-Fasher some 200 km (125 miles) away, the last state capital in Darfur still in army hands, which the RSF has besieged for nearly a year.<\/p>\n\n