The measure aims to prevent the fighting in Sudan from spilling into the Central African country, the government has said

Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan, citing repeated incursions and violations by armed groups involved in the ongoing civil war in the neighboring country.

The decision followed deadly clashes over the weekend near the border town of Tine involving Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and militia fighters aligned with Sudan's military government, which killed five Chadian soldiers and three civilians, Reuters reported. Officials said at least 12 others were wounded.

Sudan descended into chaos in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF after months of tension between their commanders over a planned transition to civilian rule. What began in the capital of Khartoum as a power struggle has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. The UN describes the war as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and widespread food insecurity.

Last year, a drone strike killed two Chadian soldiers in a cross-border incident, though it was unclear which side was responsible.

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In a statement on Monday, N'Djamena said the border closure is necessary to "prevent any risk of extension of the conflict" into its territory and to safeguard its citizens and the large refugee population that has fled the fighting in Sudan.

Chad hosts nearly a million Sudanese refugees, many of whom have arrived since the civil war erupted almost three years ago, according to figures released by the UN Refugee Agency this week.

Communications Minister Mahamat Gassim Cherif said cross-border movement of goods and people is suspended "until further notice," adding that "exceptional exemptions, strictly motivated by humanitarian reasons, may be granted with prior authorization from the competent authorities." 

The authorities in the former French colony also warned they reserved the right to respond to "any aggression or violation of the inviolability of its territory and its borders." 

Sudan's military authorities have previously accused Chad of supporting the RSF and allowing weapons and fighters to pass through its territory to the group, allegations the Central African country's government has denied.