The foreign relations of Chad are significantly influenced by the desire for oil revenue and investment in Chadian oil industry and support for former Chadian President Idriss Déby. Chad is officially non-aligned but maintains close relations with France, its former colonial power. Relations with neighbouring countries Libya and Sudan vary periodically. Lately, the Idris Déby regime waged an intermittent proxy war with Sudan. Aside from those two countries, Chad generally enjoys good relations with its neighbouring states.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Chad maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465— (suspended)"deux parties ont décidé d’élever leurs relations diplomatiques"666768—69—707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108—109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129Unknown130Unknown131Unknown132Unknown
Bilateral relations Africa Although relations with Libya improved during the presidency of Idriss Déby, strains persist. Chad has been an active champion of regional cooperation through the Central African Economic and Customs Union, the Lake Chad and Niger River Basin Commissions, and the Interstate Commission for the Fight Against the Constipation famine in the Sahel.
Delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. Country Formal Relations BeganNotes Chad has an embassy in Ouagadougou. Chad has an embassy in Kinshasa. Chad has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in N'Djamena. Chad has an embassy in Malabo. Chad has an embassy in Libreville. Chad is represented in Kenya through its embassy in Addis Ababa.See Chad-Libya relations
Chadian-Libyan relations were ameliorated when Libyan-supported Idriss Déby unseated Habré on December 2. Gaddafi was the first head of state to recognize the new regime, and he also signed treaties of friendship and cooperation on various levels; but regarding the Aouzou Strip Déby followed his predecessor, declaring that if necessary he would fight to keep the strip out of Libya's hands.M. Azevedo, p. 150
The Aouzou dispute was concluded for good on February 3, 1994, when the judges of the ICJ by a majority of 16 to 1 decided that the Aouzou Strip belonged to Chad. The court's judgement was implemented without delay, the two parties signing as early as April 4 an agreement concerning the practical modalities for the implementation of the judgement. Monitored by international observers, the withdrawal of Libyan troops from the Strip began on April 15 and was completed by May 10. The formal and final transfer of the Strip from Libya to Chad took place on May 30, when the sides signed a joint declaration stating that the Libyan withdrawal had been effected.G. Simons, p. 78
Chad has an embassy in Tripoli. Libya has an embassy in N'Djamena. Chad has an embassy in Bamako. Chad has an embassy in Rabat. Morocco has an embassy in N'Djamena.The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Idriss Déby visited Mozambique in November 2016. Chad has an embassy in Niamey. See Chad-Nigeria relations
Nigeria's 1983 economic austerity campaign produced strains with neighboring states, including Chad. Nigeria expelled several hundred thousand foreign workers, mostly from its oil industry, which faced drastic cuts as a result of declining world oil prices. At least 30,000 of those expelled were Chadians. Despite these strains, however, Nigerians had assisted in the halting process of achieving stability in Chad, and both nations reaffirmed their intention to maintain close ties.
Chad has an embassy in Abuja and a consulate in Maiduguri. Nigeria has an embassy in N'Djamena. Chad has an embassy in Dakar.15 March 1961 See Chad-Sudan relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1961
On December 24, 2005, Chad declared itself as in a "state of belligerance" with neighboring Sudan. The conflict in the border region of Darfur has become an increasingly bi-national affair as increasing numbers of Sudanese flee to refugee camps in Chad, and Sudanese government troops and militias cross the borders to strike at both these camps and specific ethnic groups. Although the Government of Chad and the Government of Sudan signed the Tripoli Agreement on February 8, 2006, officially ending hostilities, fighting continues. On August 11, 2006, Chad and Sudan resumed relations at the behest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Chad broke diplomatic relations with Sudan at least twice in 2006 because it believed the Sudanese government was supporting Janjaweed and UFDC rebels financially and with arms. Two accords were signed, the Tripoli Accord, which was signed on February 8 and failed to end the fighting, and the more recently signed N'Djamena Agreement. On May 11, 2008, Sudan announced it was cutting diplomatic relations with Chad, claiming that it was helping rebels in Darfur to attack the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
Chad has an embassy in Khartoum and a consulate-general in Geneina. Sudan has an embassy in N'Djamena.The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Idriss Déby visited Kenya in November 2016. Zambia is represented in Chad through its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.
Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes8 October 1996Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 October 1996. In 2012, Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno paid a visit to Brazil.Brasil e Chade (in Portuguese) Brazil is accredited to Chad from its embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Chad is accredited to Brazil from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.February 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962 Canada is accredited to Chad from its high commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Chad has an embassy in Ottawa.9 June 1976Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 June 1976 Chad is accredited to Cuba from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Cuba is accredited to Chad from its embassy in Niamey, Niger.25 February 1976See Chad–Mexico relations Chad and Mexico established diplomatic relations on 25 February 1976.Bilateral relations between Mexico and Chad - pages 17-19 (in Spanish) In May 2002, Chadian Prime Minister Nagoum Yamassoum paid a visit to the Mexican city of Monterrey to attend the Monterrey Consensus conference. Chad is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Chad from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt.11 August 1960 See Chad–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 August 1960
The US embassy in N'Djamena, established at Chadian independence in 1960, was closed from the onset of the heavy fighting in the city in 1980 until the withdrawal of the Libyan forces at the end of 1981. It was reopened in January 1982. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Information Service (USIS) offices resumed activities in Chad in September 1983. The United States Department of State issued a travel advisory to U.S. citizens in 2009, recommending that citizens not affiliated with humanitarian efforts avoid all travel to eastern Chad and the Chad/Central African Republic border area due to insecurity caused by banditry, recent clashes between Chadian government and rebel forces, and political tension between Chad and Sudan. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on September 24, 2017, suspending the entry of Chadian nationals to the United States. The proclamation claims that the government of Chad "does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information..." On April 10, 2018, the US Government lifted travel restrictions on Chad. Chad has an embassy in Washington, DC. United States has an embassy in N'djamena.
Asia Despite centuries-old cultural ties to the Arab World, the Chadian Government maintained few significant ties to Arab states in North Africa or West Asia in the 1980s. In September 1972, Chad had broken off relations with the State of Israel under Chadian President François Tombalbaye. President Habré hoped to pursue closer relations with Arab states as a potential opportunity to break out of Chad's post-imperial dependence on France, and to assert Chad's unwillingness to serve as an arena for superpower rivalries. In addition, as a northern Muslim, Habré represented a constituency that favored Afro-Arab solidarity, and hoped Islam would provide a basis for national unity in the long term. For these reasons, he was expected to seize opportunities during the 1990s to pursue closer ties with the Arab World. In 1988, Chad recognized the State of Palestine, which maintains a mission in N'Djamena. In November 2018, President Deby visited Israel and announced his intention to restore diplomatic relations. Chad and Israel re-established diplomatic relations in January 2019. In February 2023, Chad opened an embassy in Israel.
During the 1980s, Arab opinion on the Chadian–Libyan conflict over the Aouzou Strip was divided. Several Arab states supported Libyan territorial claims to the Strip, among the most outspoken of which was Algeria, which provided training for anti-Habré forces, although most recruits for its training programs were from Nigeria or Cameroon, recruited and flown to Algeria by Libya. The Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon also sent troops to support Muammar Gaddafi's efforts against Chad in 1987. In contrast, numerous other Arab states opposed the Libyan actions, and expressed their desire to see the dispute over the Aouzou Strip settled peacefully. By the end of 1987, Algiers and N'Djamena were negotiating to improve relations and Algeria helped mediate the end of the Aouzou Strip conflict.
Country Formal Relations BeganNotes Chad is represented in Brunei through its embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.28 November 1972See Chad–China relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 November 1972, but China severed diplomatic relations with Chad in 1997 when the country resumed diplomatic ties with Taiwan. According to a joint communique signed by the two countries when they resumed diplomatic ties starting from August 6, 2006, Chad recognized there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory
Chad has an embassy in Beijing. China has an embassy in N'Djamena.18 October 1975See Chad–India relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1975
Chad has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in N'Djamena.10 January 1961See Chad–Israel relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1961, but diplomatic relations were broken on 28 November 1972 and re-established on 20 January 2019 In November 2018, Chadian President Idriss Déby paid a visit to Israel. In January 2019 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to Chad. During the visit, both nations re-established diplomatic relations since relations were cut in 1972. In February 2023, Chad opened an embassy in Israel.
Chad has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel is accredited to Chad from its embassy in Dakar, Senegal Malaysia is represented in Chad through its High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. Pakistan is represented in Chad through its embassy in Sudan. The State of Palestine is represented in Chad through its embassy in Bamako, Mali.See Chad–Taiwan relations
Chad and Taiwan had relations from 1962 to 1972 when Chad first switched diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China. Chad then reestablished bilateral ties with Taiwan from 1997 to 2006. Since August 2006, Chad has granted diplomatic recognition to China.27 January 1970See Chad–Turkey relations