Chad Continues to Focus on Counter Terrorism Efforts Despite Financial Crisis
Background
The Government of Chad has prioritized counterterrorism efforts in 2017 despite facing a worsening financial crisis that has limited its ability to meet basic financial commitments.
Military Support for Regional Counterterrorism Efforts
- Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF): Chad provided approximately 2,000 combat forces to the MNJTF, which also includes Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.
- Operation Barkhane: Chad has continued to host France’s integrated counterterrorism mission for the Sahel region.
- UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA): Chad had 1,450 soldiers supporting MINUSMA at year’s end.
Domestic Counterterrorism Efforts
- Penal Code Update: The Government of Chad updated its Penal Code in April 2017, increasing penalties for lesser terrorist offenses to life imprisonment.
- Law Enforcement Capacity: Chadian law enforcement units displayed basic command and control capacity, but there were reports of arbitrary and unlawful killings, including by torture, and impunity was an issue.
Border Security Measures
- Screenings at Border-Crossings: The Chadian government has instituted screenings at border-crossings to prevent infiltration by members of Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa (ISIS-WA), and Central African militias.
- Border Patrols: Border patrols were provided by a combination of border security officials, gendarmes, police, and military.
International Cooperation
- Task Force on Money Laundering in Central Africa: Chad is a member of the Task Force on Money Laundering in Central Africa.
- Egmont Group: Chad’s financial intelligence unit, the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), is a member of the Egmont Group.
Strategy and Action Plan to Counter Violent Extremism
- National Strategy and Action Plan: The Government of Chad adopted a national strategy and action plan to “Counter Violent Extremism and Radicalization” in December 2017.
- CVE Program: USAID committed to a multi-year CVE program.