The civic space in Chad remains severely restricted, shaped by authoritarian governance, legal constraints and escalating repression. Civil society operates under strong state control, a punitive legal framework, disinformation and deep-rooted social fragility.

The 2018 Ordinance No. 023/PR/2018 continues to impose onerous conditions on the registration and operation of associations, requiring prior ministerial authorisation and criminalising unauthorised activity, including the formation of federations, under threat of imprisonment or heavy fines. The government has also prohibited coalitions between political parties and CSOs, regional and community organisations, weakening avenues for citizen-led collaboration and advocacy. Decrees have targeted youth and peacebuilding organisations, including AJADR and CONAJEPDT, dissolving them on vague public order grounds.

Since 2021, public demonstrations have faced violent suppression, including live ammunition and mass arrests. ANSE has been implicated in arbitrary detentions and intimidation of civil society leaders and opposition figures, while the October 2022 crackdown, which caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, remains uninvestigated. The December 2023 constitutional referendum further narrowed political participation, amid irregularities, exclusion of opposition voices and lack of transparency. The ruling MPS secured a dominant National Assembly majority, while opposition parties boycotted the elections citing fraud and repression.

Inter-ethnic violence, resource competition, weak governance and climate pressures further undermine cohesion, while disinformation and divisive narratives polarise communities and erode public trust. Despite threats, surveillance and legal harassment, movements such as Wakit Tama and local youth networks continue to mobilise around governance, human rights and peacebuilding.

Network Member:
Association Tchadienne pour la Promotion et la Défense des Droits Humains