Financial Crime World

Goldfields Serve as Key Logistical Hubs in Chad, Fueling Violence and Illicit Activity

The goldmining areas of northern Chad have emerged as key logistical hubs, feeding a lucrative illegal trade that is linked to high levels of violence and illicit activity. Despite the fact that these activities remain largely illicit, they also provide crucial employment opportunities in a region where alternative livelihoods are scarce.

Criminal Activity

  • The goldfields have become a hotbed of criminal activity, with armed groups and military forces engaging in a brutal struggle for control.
  • Widespread fuel smuggling to supply the goldmining industry has further exacerbated the problem.

Drug Trafficking

Chad is also a transit country for heroin, although the scale of this trade is considered to be relatively small. However, there are links between domestic and regional terrorist organizations and illicit drug trafficking, including heroin, through the Sahel routes of Northern Africa, with destinations in European and North American markets.

Criminal Justice and Security

  • The absence of specialized judicial units in Chad dedicated to countering organized crime has hindered efforts to combat this problem.
  • Law enforcement is largely confined to major cities and has remained geographically and functionally limited.
  • The country still lacks specialized organized crime law enforcement units, making it difficult to effectively address criminal activity.

Economic and Financial Environment

  • Chad’s economic regulatory capacity remains weak, with no significant progress made in the correlation between economic regulation and the fight against organized crime.
  • Conducting business within Chad is extremely challenging due to its weak economic regulatory capacity.

Civil Society and Social Protection

  • Victim and witness support in Chad remains limited and focused on key geographic areas.
  • While there have been efforts made by the government and NGOs to support victims of human trafficking, no significant updates have been registered in recent years.
  • Preventive measures against organized crime continue to be weak, with no functional system in place to legally support victims.

Government Response

  • The death of President Idriss Dèby in April 2021 led to a transitional military council taking power, which has resulted in limited government transparency and accountability.
  • Chad is perceived to have one of the highest levels of corruption in the world, with oversight mechanisms and accountability almost non-existent.

International Cooperation

  • Despite these challenges, Chad has indicated its willingness to promote international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime.
  • The country has extensive relationships with a wide array of international organizations in the fight against both TOC and terrorism in the Sahel.
  • However, domestic implementation of legal frameworks remains a significant challenge.