Chad

## Chad: Level 4 — Do Not Travel, Deby Dynasty, Lake Chad Ecological Catastrophe

### Security Warning — This Must Be Read First

Chad is rated **Level 4 — Do Not Travel** by the US State Department (upgraded April 2026). This is the highest danger classification:

- **Boko Haram operates in the Lake Chad Basin** (southwest Chad) — bombings, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians
- **Northern border areas** are extremely dangerous due to armed groups and cross-border incursions from Libya and Sudan
- **US government limited emergency services** — cannot guarantee assistance in most areas
- **Crime**: Armed robbery, carjacking, and home invasions occur throughout the country, including N'Djamena
- **Civil unrest**: Demonstrations can turn violent with little warning

No Bangladeshi worker should travel to Chad for employment under any circumstances.

### The Deby Dynasty

Chad has been ruled by the Deby family for over 35 years:

- **Idriss Deby Itno** seized power in a military coup in 1990. Ruled for 31 years until killed in battle against rebels on April 20, 2021 — the day after winning his sixth presidential election.
- **Mahamat Idriss Deby** (son) immediately assumed power via a Transitional Military Council, dissolving the constitution. He then won a presidential election in May 2024 with 79% of the vote — an election the opposition characterized as a sham.
- **Constitutional referendum (2023)**: Replaced parliamentary system with a presidential one, consolidating Deby's power.

The dynasty succession from father to son, bypassing constitutional succession rules, tells you everything about Chad's institutional accountability.

### Why Chad is NOT a Labor Destination for BD Workers

1. **Level 4 — Do Not Travel**: This alone disqualifies Chad as a labor destination. Boko Haram is active. Armed groups operate in multiple regions. The government cannot guarantee safety.

2. **TIP Tier 3 — Worst Rating**: Chad received the lowest TIP rating in the 2025 Report. The government reported ZERO trafficking prosecutions and ZERO convictions. The National Committee to Combat Trafficking (NCCTIP) was not operationalized for the second consecutive year. Chadian children are exploited in forced labor (cattle herding, domestic work, begging) and sex trafficking. Foreign nationals transiting through Chad are vulnerable.

3. **Oil Revenue Without Development**: Chad received $4.2 billion in oil revenue between 2004-2013 through the World Bank-managed Chad-Cameroon pipeline. The development impact was minimal — poverty rates remained unchanged. The Esso (ExxonMobil) consortium controls production. Oil wealth flows to elites, not to workers.

4. **Lake Chad Ecological Catastrophe**: Lake Chad has shrunk by approximately 90% since the 1960s — from 25,000 km² to roughly 2,500 km². This affects 30+ million people across Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. Fishing and farming communities are devastated. The ecological crisis compounds the security crisis — displaced communities are recruitment pools for Boko Haram.

5. **Wages well below Bangladesh**: Minimum wage XAF 60,000/month (~USD 91). Below BD garment wages (~USD 113). Agricultural wages significantly lower. The oil sector pays better but employs almost exclusively foreign technical staff from France and the US.

6. **French + Arabic barrier**: Chad uses French and Arabic as official languages (alongside Sara and other local languages). English is not widely spoken. A Bangladeshi worker faces a double language barrier.

7. **No BD embassy**: There is no Bangladeshi embassy or consulate in Chad. The nearest BD diplomatic mission is the High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria (~2,100 km from N'Djamena by road). In a Level 4 country, this means effectively zero consular protection.

### What This Page Provides

This page exists to give Bangladeshi nationals honest, verified information about Chad. The eVisa system is technically operational (EUR 100, 90 days, mandatory since May 2026). But Chad is Level 4 — Do Not Travel. Boko Haram is active. The Deby dynasty has ruled for 35+ years with zero institutional accountability. TIP Tier 3 means zero trafficking enforcement. Lake Chad has shrunk 90%. Wages are below Bangladesh. There is no BD embassy within 2,100 km.

If you encounter a recruitment offer for work in Chad — it is almost certainly fraudulent.

## Job Market: Chad

### Overview — Security Context First

Any discussion of Chad's job market must acknowledge the Level 4 advisory and active Boko Haram presence. Economic activity outside N'Djamena and Moundou is significantly constrained by security concerns.

### Sectors

- **Oil**: Chad's primary export. Esso (ExxonMobil) consortium operates the Doba basin fields. But oil jobs are almost exclusively filled by foreign technical staff from France, the US, and Malaysia. Local employment is limited to low-skill support roles.
- **Agriculture**: Cotton, sorghum, millet, groundnuts. ~80% of population engaged in farming/pastoralism. Lake Chad shrinkage has devastated fishing and lakeside agriculture.
- **Livestock**: Traditional pastoral economy. Chad has one of Africa's largest livestock populations. Severely affected by desertification and conflict.
- **Public sector**: Government is a major employer in N'Djamena. French and Arabic mandatory.

### For BD Workers: No Market

Level 4 country. Zero documented demand for Bangladeshi labor. No BD recruitment agencies. No bilateral MOU. Minimum wage ~USD 91 — below BD garment wages. French + Arabic mandatory. Military dynasty government. Boko Haram active. No BD embassy within 2,100 km.

## Salary Reliability: Chad

### Enforcement — Weak

The minimum wage (XAF 60,000/month ≈ USD 91) applies to the formal sector. But Chad's formal sector is extremely small — the vast majority of economic activity is informal agriculture and pastoralism where minimum wage law has no practical effect.

### Oil Sector

Oil companies (Esso/ExxonMobil, CNPC) pay international-standard wages to technical staff. But these positions require specialized qualifications and are filled by foreign nationals from France, the US, and China. Entry-level local oil sector wages are marginally above minimum.

### Public Sector

Government employees are paid from oil revenue. But payment delays are common. During oil price downturns, government salary arrears accumulate — in 2016, civil servants went months without pay.

### Data Quality

Limited independent data. ILO and World Bank provide estimates. Government statistics should be treated with caution given the Deby dynasty's incentive to present normalcy.

## Cost of Living: Chad

### N'Djamena (Capital)

- **Rent (1-bedroom, city center)**: XAF 100,000-200,000/month (~USD 152-305)
- **Rent (1-bedroom, outside center)**: XAF 50,000-100,000/month (~USD 76-152)
- **Basic meal (local restaurant)**: XAF 1,000-3,000 (~USD 1.52-4.57)
- **Utilities**: XAF 20,000-50,000/month (~USD 30-76)

### Key Problem

The minimum wage (XAF 60,000 ≈ USD 91) does not cover basic rent in N'Djamena. Even the cheapest housing consumes the entire monthly wage. After rent, food, transport, and utilities are impossible at minimum wage. Remittance to Bangladesh is not feasible.

### Landlocked Premium

Chad is landlocked. All imported goods arrive via Cameroon's Douala port (1,800+ km road transport). Import costs inflate consumer prices significantly above coastal West/Central African countries.

## Bangladeshi Community: Chad

### Current Presence

**Zero documented Bangladeshi presence** in Chad.

### No BD Embassy or Consulate

Nearest BD diplomatic mission: High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria (~2,100 km from N'Djamena by road). In a Level 4 country, this means effectively zero consular protection.

### Religious Context

Chad is approximately 58% Muslim, 35% Christian, 7% indigenous beliefs. Islam is the majority religion. Halal food widely available. However, Boko Haram (an Islamist insurgent group) operates in the southwest — the religious landscape is conflict-affected.

### Language Isolation

Without French or Arabic, near-complete linguistic isolation. Sara languages are spoken in the south. No Bengali-speaking support exists.

## Legitimate Uses of the Chad eVisa — With Extreme Caution

### Business Travel — N'Djamena Only

- **Oil sector**: Meetings with Esso (ExxonMobil), CNPC, or SHT (Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad) possible in N'Djamena. Travel to Doba basin oil fields requires security assessment.
- **Livestock trade**: Traditional cattle markets in southern Chad. Cross-border trade with Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR.
- **Cotton**: Traditional export crop. Processing in Moundou.

### Tourism — Extremely Limited

- **Zakouma National Park**: One of Central Africa's most important wildlife areas. Park reopened after security improvements. Access requires organized tour.
- **Ennedi Plateau**: UNESCO World Heritage site (2016). Spectacular sandstone formations in the Sahara. Remote and requires organized expedition.
- Tourism outside organized safari/expedition is not recommended.

### What the eVisa is NOT For

- **Employment**: Level 4 country. TIP Tier 3. No BD labor market.
- **Travel outside N'Djamena without security plan**: Boko Haram in southwest, armed groups in north.