Financial Crime World

Organized Crime Landscape in Chad: A Comprehensive Analysis

Key Points

Chad’s organized crime landscape is characterized by widespread trafficking activities, limited oversight mechanisms, and corruption. The following key points summarize the current situation:

  • Trafficking: Cannabis trafficking is prevalent along Chad’s borders with Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Sudan. Domestic production also exists in southern Chad and the Lake Chad region.
  • Cyber Crimes: This indicator was first included in the 2023 iteration of the tool, but no specific information about cyber crimes in Chad is available.
  • Financial Crimes: Also a new indicator (2023), there’s limited information on financial crimes in Chad.
  • Criminal Actors: Several armed groups and rebels operate in northern and eastern Chad, involved in various trafficking activities. Corruption is widespread, with customs and police services protecting traffickers, and wildlife officers involved in the illicit ivory trade.
  • Leadership and Governance: The government has taken steps to tackle criminality through a securitized approach, but transparency is limited, and corruption perception is high. Oversight mechanisms are quasi-non-existent.
  • Criminal Justice and Security: Law enforcement is geographically and functionally limited, with vast areas along the Sudan border beyond central government control. Special task forces have been created to address criminality, but there are no specialized judicial units for organized crime.
  • Economic and Financial Environment: Chad’s economic regulatory capacity remains weak, making doing business difficult. The country has a law against money laundering and terrorist financing, but its effectiveness is weak.
  • Civil Society and Social Protection: Victim support is limited, with some mobilization by civil society to denounce trafficking in people. Prevention measures are weak, and journalists face censorship and social media access is blocked during protests.

Recommendations

To address the complex issue of organized crime in Chad, the following recommendations have been made:

  • Improve transparency and governance in Chad to combat corruption.
  • Enhance law enforcement capacity to cover vast areas beyond central government control.
  • Establish specialized judicial units for organized crime.
  • Strengthen economic regulation to facilitate doing business.
  • Improve victim support and mobilize civil society for prevention efforts.

Next Steps

To effectively address the issue of organized crime in Chad, the following next steps should be taken:

  1. Conduct a thorough assessment of Chad’s organized crime landscape, including the extent and types of criminal activities.
  2. Develop a comprehensive strategy to address organized crime, incorporating recommendations from this report.
  3. Engage with international organizations and partners to enhance cooperation in combating transnational organized crime.
  4. Implement measures to improve transparency, governance, and economic regulation.
  5. Support civil society efforts to denounce trafficking and promote prevention measures.

By following these steps, Chad can better address the complex issue of organized crime and work towards a more secure and prosperous future for its citizens.