This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
On August 18, 2019, Chad President Idriss Deby declared a state of emergency in two eastern provinces, Sila and Ouaddai, following violent intercommunal clashes that left dozens dead earlier this month.
The state of emergency, which will run for three months, was announced after 50 people died in fighting between cattle herders and settled farmers since August 9.
President Deby deployed military forces to ensure the security of the population in the region, saying, "From now, we will deploy military forces who are going to ensure the security of the population in the region."
He also called for the disarmament of civilians, stating, "We must disarm all the civilians who have weapons in their hands."
Eastern Chad has been plagued by a cycle of violence between nomadic camel herders and sedentary farmers, with drought and population growth exacerbating the conflict.
