Sudan extends opening of Chadian border crossing for aid

September 2, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s government announced on Tuesday that it has extended the opening of the Adre border crossing with Chad for humanitarian aid until the end of the year, calling for increased efforts to meet the urgent needs in the war-torn Darfur region.

The crossing in West Darfur, a state controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been reopened on a rolling three-month basis since August 2023 to allow relief to enter the western region.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said the extension “confirms the government’s commitment to ensuring the arrival of relief” and demonstrates its goodwill in facilitating humanitarian work.

The decision has been contentious, with some Sudanese officials previously objecting to the crossing’s use, alleging it has been a conduit for weapons from the United Arab Emirates to the RSF.

The ministry said the extension coincided with a reported disaster in Tursin village in the Jebel Marra area, where a landslide is said to have killed hundreds. The government called on “brotherly and friendly countries and humanitarian organizations” to provide aid to those affected.

The Sudan Liberation Movement, which controls the mountainous Jebel Marra region, claimed that heavy rains caused a landslide that killed all but one of more than 1,000 villagers. The report has been met with scepticism, and independent verification is difficult as the area is only accessible by pack animals.

The conflict has devastated livelihoods and supply chains in Darfur, where 79% of the population now requires humanitarian assistance and protection, according to aid groups.