Our top story today: deadly clashes in Chad between government forces and rebel fighters have left at least six people dead, highlighting the ongoing instability in the country’s south.

According to official statements from both the Chadian army and the rebel group known as the MPRD, fighting erupted early Tuesday morning in Korbol, a town in the Moyen-Chari region near Chad’s border with the Central African Republic.

The army reported that three soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded during the clashes. Meanwhile, the MPRD, which stands for the Movement for Peace, Reconciliation and Development, confirmed the loss of three of their fighters and two more wounded.

Experts say the confrontation began when an army column tried to advance toward rebel positions but was met with an ambush. The military has been increasing its presence in this strategic border region, according to Remadji Hoinathy, a security analyst with the Institute for Security Studies. Hoinathy also noted that the army issued the MPRD an ultimatum to surrender just days before the violence erupted.

The MPRD, founded in 2003, has one clear objective: to overthrow the current government system in Chad. The country has been under the control of the Deby family for over three decades, first under the late President Idriss Deby, and now his son, Mahamat Deby, who was named transitional president by the military in 2021 after his father’s death. Mahamat Deby secured a contested election victory last year amid opposition boycotts.

These clashes underscore the persistent challenges facing Chad as it grapples with rebel insurgencies and political uncertainty, especially in the southern regions where rebel groups remain active.

We will continue to monitor this developing story and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

Reporting by Ehud Jones.