Chad closes border with Libya

Chad has shut down its border along with Libya and is now planning to deploy troops to the area in an effort to prevent infiltration of militant fighters fleeing conflict in its war-torn northern neighbour.

Chad worried that fighters will flee south across the border with groups that have converged towards the south of Libya, just adjacent to Northen parts of the country.

Libya was plunge into war in a 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. The Unity government has been successful in ousting the Islamic State from its former stronghold of Sirte, but has failed to take control of the already captured regions..

Chad’s army has become one of the region’s strongest, and it now plays a key role in efforts to combat Boko Haram – an Islamic State affiliate group – in neighbouring Nigeria. It also confronted attacks by the Islamist militant group on its own soil.