On 30 December, nine Libyan truck drivers, residents of al-Jawf/Kufra in south-eastern Libya, were abducted in northern Chad near the desert road connecting Libya and Chad south of al-Jawf. They were taken by relatives of Chadian traders who had themselves been arrested in southeastern Libya. The incident triggered widespread public anger in Libya.
On the same day, the Kufra Municipal Council announced a series of strict measures in retaliation to the ‘kidnapping and torturing’ of several Libyan truck drivers inside Chadian territory. As a precaution, the council suspended all truck traffic to and from Chad within its administrative area until the safety of the abducted citizens is ensured and secure trade routes are guaranteed. In an official statement, the council strongly condemned the torture of Kufra residents, calling it a blatant violation of human rights. It held Chadian authorities fully responsible for protecting Libyan citizens on their soil and demanded assurances for their safety.
In the evening, one of the Libyan drivers was released and returned to Libya.
The Government of National Stability’s (GNS) Ministry of Foreign Affairs formed a crisis cell chaired by minister Abd al-Hadi al-Hawij to follow up on the incident and to ensure the release of the Libyans.
Libyan National Army (LNA) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Khalid Haftar condemned the assault in the strongest terms, stressing that Libya cannot and will not allow such a crime to pass without accountability. He affirmed that all necessary measures will be taken to pursue and punish those responsible for this heinous act. Khalid Haftar further emphasized that Libyan authorities would continue to follow up with their counterparts in Chad until justice is served, warning that such behaviour must never be repeated. He held the Chadian authorities fully responsible for ensuring the safety and protection of Libyan citizens.
On 31 December, Chadian media reported that security forces in Salamat Province, near the Sudanese border, arrested four armed individuals involved in the previous day’s attack on Libyan drivers.
Authorities described the suspects as outlaws, noting that the weapons used in the assault were seized and legal measures have been taken as part of efforts to strengthen security and protect international routes.
The GNS Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has contacted the Chadian authorities to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained Libyan nationals. It stressed that the abuse was an isolated act that does not reflect the Chadian government or harm relations between the two countries. The Ministry also affirmed that Chadian citizens in Libya live and work in safe and dignified conditions, in line with the principles of good‑neighbourly relations.
On 1 January, the GNS Ministry of Foreign affairs announced that all Libyan citizens detained in Chad had been released unconditionally. The ministry said the outcome followed coordinated communications between the Libyan military leadership, the government, security agencies, and local authorities in Kufra. According to the statement, Chad’s foreign minister reaffirmed his government’s rejection of the unlawful actions committed by some Chadian individuals against Libyans, and pledged to ensure the safety of Libyan nationals on Chadian territory.
On the other side, Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all Chadian nationals previously detained in Kufra have been released, and that Chadian security forces have also freed the Libyan citizens who were kidnapped on Chadian territory. The ministry praised all parties involved, particularly the Chadian head of state, and thanked the Libyan authorities for their cooperation, noting that the incident has now been resolved. It added that efforts will continue to prevent similar events that undermine the traditionally close relations between the two peoples.
On 1 January in the afternoon, all the remaining abducted Libyan truck drivers returned with their trucks to Libya via the unofficial border crossing site north of the Chadian border town Um al‑Jaras. They were received at the border by the LNA’s Suboul al-Salam Brigade, a predominantly Madkhali Salafist militia of the Arab al-Zwai tribe, which effectively controls Libya’s border with Sudan and wide parts of the border with Chad in the Kufra area.
On the same afternoon, the Chadians, whose arrest by Libyan security forces in Kufra triggered the incident, were allowed to return back to Chad. They were escorted to the border by the Suboul al-Salam Brigade.
On 2 January, demonstrations in the Chadian capital N’Djamena demanded the closure of the border with Libya and the severing of relations between the two countries.
On 3 January, al-Hawij said the crisis cell of his Foreign Ministry worked closely with senior Chadian officials, Libyan security bodies, and intelligence services, praising the support of the armed forces, government leaders, and local authorities in Kufra. According to him, both countries agreed to turn the crisis into an opportunity by forming joint committees, preventing future incidents, and opening a Chadian consulate in Benghazi to strengthen cooperation. The minister reaffirmed Libya’s support for expanding economic ties based on mutual respect and emphasized ongoing high‑level coordination, with upcoming bilateral meetings and measures aimed at preventing similar events and deepening cooperation between the two neighbours.