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Chad’s Public Procurement Process Ridden with Corruption

Khartoum, Sudan - A recent investigation has uncovered widespread corruption in Chad’s public procurement process, with officials demanding bribes from businesses seeking to secure government contracts.

Corruption in Public Procurement

According to a report by Macra Tadin, entrepreneurs are forced to pay hefty bribes to procurement officials who delay the awarding of contracts to extort more money. In one instance, an entrepreneur was asked to deposit an envelope containing approximately USD 350,000 into a procurement official’s account, only to be told that the bribe would not guarantee him the contract.

Favoritism and Nepotism

The report also highlights favoritism in government decisions, with businesses owned by relatives of high-ranking officials frequently awarded contracts. For example, a private company owned by a relative of the president was granted the right to print passports.

Construction Sector Plagued by Corruption

Chad’s construction sector is particularly plagued by corruption, with contracts often being awarded to individuals connected to government officials. The country’s legal framework for curbing corruption is weak and not adequately enforced, with whistleblowers facing intimidation and harassment.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has noted that Chad’s oil industry is also susceptible to corruption, citing secrecy around oil deals between companies and the government as a major concern. “The lack of transparency in Chad’s public procurement process and extractive industries creates an environment conducive to corruption,” said a spokesperson for Transparency International. “It’s essential that the government takes concrete steps to address these issues and ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of all Chadians.”

Corruption Perception Index

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016, Chad ranked 143rd out of 140 countries in terms of corruption perception.

Sources

• Macra Tadin: “Lea Practiques Deviantes des Marchés publics au Tchad”, January 2015
• Transparency International: Overview of corruption and anti-corruption in Chad, 8 August 2014
• EITI: “Opening the Chadian black box”, 2 June 2014
• World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016

Contact

For more information or to schedule an interview with a Transparency International spokesperson, please contact [Name] at [Email] or [Phone].