At least 42 people killed in eastern Chad during clashes over water resources

At least 42 people were killed in eastern Chad after clashes over a water point escalated into reprisals, authorities and local reports said.

The violence took place in Igote, in Wadi Fira province near the border with Sudan. Reports from AP, Al Jazeera, Tchadinfos and other outlets said 10 people were also injured and taken for treatment.

According to the reports, the dispute began over access to water and then spread as the confrontation turned into retaliatory attacks. Chadian authorities said the army intervened to help contain the fighting.

Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat visited the area and said the situation was under control. Authorities also said they had launched customary mediation and judicial proceedings in response to the killings.

The latest toll makes the incident one of the deadliest local resource disputes reported in Chad this year. The area has also drawn concern because of its proximity to the Sudan border, where regional insecurity has added pressure on communities.

Officials have not yet said whether the death toll will rise further, and it remains unclear whether arrests or additional security measures will follow. For now, the focus is on stabilizing the area and preventing reprisals from widening the violence.