ABSTRACT
A landlocked country spanning the Sahel and Central Africa, Chad has experienced continued instability since its independence from France in 1960. Multiple military coups have further exposed the fragility of Chad's political system, which remains largely predicated on military might, ethnic divisions and patrimonial government practices. The authoritarian transition regime has since struggled to contain northern rebellions, quell further uprisings in the south, tackle residual violence by Jama atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda awati wal-Jihad in the Lake Chad Basin and address persistent communal violence all at once. Against this backdrop, Chad signed a defence-cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia in January 2023 and increased defence and security allocations by 20% in its 2023 national budget, suggesting that the government is preparing for war. Beyond political rebel groups, Chad also continues to face extensive communal violence, mostly powered by a combination of ethnic rivalries and opposing economic interests.
