Chad

Political relations

France and Chad have a strong and long-standing bilateral relationship marked by many high-level meetings. Chad is also an important partner for France in the fight against terrorism.

Economic relations

France is one of Chad’s main economic partners.
France is Chad’s leading bilateral development assistance partner. Over the last decade (2011-2020), the AFD’s support to Chad totalled €386 million, primarily in five priority sectors: access to essential services, health, rural development, education and vocational training. As of 31 December 2021, the AFD’s portfolio in Chad totalled €240 million (32 ongoing projects). €30 million was disbursed in 2021, excluding general budget support and budgetary support loans. This amount should remain stable in 2022.

France’s support also includes budgetary support. An annual budgetary support loan was granted each year between 2017 and 2019, totalling €100 million (€40 million in both 2017 and 2018, €20 million in 2019), in addition to annual general budget support. These amounts were granted in the context of support to countries in the CEMAC subregion that had signed up to an IMF programme for the period, including Chad. In 2022, the country received general budget support of €15 million, as against €20 million in 2021, €15 million in 2020, and €10 million in 2019 and 2018.

French exports to Chad have been on a generally downward trend since 2012, standing at €69.8 million in 2021. At the same time, France’s imports, which peaked at €278 million in 2020, fell by almost half in 2021 to €169 million. They do however remain well above pre-2020 figures. We thus have a trade deficit.

France’s foreign direct investment stock in Chad stood at €111 million in 2019, below the amount in the early 2000s (around €180 million). Some 20 French companies are present in the agrifood, construction, commerce, petroleum distribution, banking and logistics sectors, as well as a few local companies that belong to French nationals, primarily in the catering, services and construction sectors. French companies in Chad include Compagnie Sucrière du Tchad (Vilgrain), Brasseries du Tchad (Castel), TotalEnergies, Nexira (export of gum arabic), SGT (subsidiary of Société Générale) and Air France. Perenco has entered the hydrocarbon production sector, having taken over the assets of Glencore.