Genvisec advises  advise against all travel to:

 

areas within 30km of the border with Libya, Nigeria, Niger and the Central African Republic

areas bordering Lake Chad including the regions of Kanem and Lac to the west of the towns of Mao and Bol

areas within 30km of Cameroon from Lake Chad as far as Léré

the regions of Sila, Wadi Fira, Ennedi, and Tibesti

the region of Ouaddaï except the town of Abéché

The region of Borkou except within 30km of the town of Faya Largeau

Genvisec advises that travel to all remaining parts of the country can continue with the appropriate security precautions and an escort. Travel to Ndjamena should continue with an appropriate guide and security brief.

 

You should only undertake travel to those parts of the country  outside of Ndjamena against all  if you are confident that you have in place adequate security precautions to protect you from violent crime, the correct Chadian authorities are aware of your journey, you have in place the right permits if required, and you hold comprehensive travel insurance.

 

There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. There is a threat of retaliatory attacks following the French intervention in Mali and Chadian intervention the Central African Republic.

 

Crime

 

Armed robberies, particularly from cars, in residential areas of N’Djamena are common. Foreigners are sometimes targeted.

 

Be vigilant and take care particularly in the capital. Keep doors locked and windows closed. Don’t carry large sums of money, jewellery, or other valuables. Avoid isolated or less developed areas of towns and only frequent 'expat' bars and restaurants. When moving at night always go by vehicle, preferably not travelling alone.

 

Overall the centre of Ndjamena is relatively secure if appropriate security precautions are taken.

 

Terrorism

 

There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

 

There is a threat in Chad from terrorist groups operating in the wider region. Following military intervention in Mali, there have been retaliatory attacks in bordering countries. As Chad has participated in the intervention, there is a risk that terrorist groups may cross into Chad to carry out attacks.

 

The Government of Nigeria continues to declare a state of emergency in the northern state of Borno, which borders Chad. There is a risk that the instability may spill over the border from Nigeria into Chad. You should be alert to announcements and monitor any developments.

 

 Local travel

 

Nearly 350,000 Sudanese and Central African refugees and 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) are living in and around camps in eastern Chad. The Joint Border Force between Sudan and Chad has partially stabilised the situation, but banditry and violent crime in eastern Chad still exist. The border between Chad and Sudan is subject to closure at little notice.

 

The area bordering Libya is subject to closure and heavily land-mined. The northern regions of Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti remain unsafe. A large number of Chadian citizens have returned to Chad as a result of the conflict in Libya.  This has put additional pressure on scarce resources which could lead to increased insecurity.

 

There have been a number of kidnappings in eastern Chad involving Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) workers and business people. You should be vigilant and take care at all times.

 

Road travel

 

The road network is extremely poor and road travel can be dangerous due to the state of the roads and quality of driving. Accidents involving motorbikes are particularly common as this is the principle mode of transport. Crowds can quickly gather around the scene of an accident and, while rarely violent, can be intimidating. Try to make contact with the police or other local authority immediately if you are involved in an accident and continue on your journey leaving one vehicle and local driver to resolve. Genvisec advises that a minimum of two vehicles are used in convoy with local drivers. Pay particular attention when moving through villages ensuring you do not exceed 20km/h, local villagers can become unhappy in the dry season with the amount of dust that is ejected by speeding vehicles as well as threat of a fast moving vehicle to the inhabitants.

 

For travel outside the capital, you will need authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior, which is normally granted without difficulty after a few days. Roads are poor and often impassable during the rainy season (July-October), especially in the south. Heavy rains can result in major flooding in many areas, particularly in the south and east, in some areas the roads can be submerged by up to 1 metre of water.

 

You should travel in convoy, keep doors locked and carry spare fuel and supplies. Police checkpoints are common: you may be asked to show your passport, driving licence and vehicle registration documents. Don’t travel by road after dark.

 

Political Situation

 

You should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. There were several prolonged strikes of Government workers in N’Djamena in 2011 and 2012. Strikes can impact provision of services and may lead to demonstrations. If you become aware of any nearby protests leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments through local media.

 

After years of conflict, in January 2010 Sudan and Chad signed agreements to normalise relations and jointly police their common border. Although the likelihood of significant rebel activity has fallen as a result, the political and security situation remains uncertain and could change rapidly.

 

Contact your doctor around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. 

 

Medical facilities in Chad are poor. Hospitals in N’Djamena are stretched at the best of times and sometimes affected by strikes. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

 

Malaria and water-borne diseases are common. There has been a resurgence of cases of diseases such as poliomyelitis and measles. A cholera epidemic in 2011 saw 17,000 reported cases including 455 deaths. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards.

 

Meningitis can occur throughout Chad, and is especially common in the south of the country, which lies within the African meningitis belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia.

 

The WHO has confirmed an outbreak of yellow fever in Ouaddaï Region, near the Chadian border with Sudan.

 

The 2013 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 180,000 adults aged 15 or over in Chad were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 2.7% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

 

Local laws and customs

Local laws reflect the fact that Chad is a predominantly Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

 

Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence.

 

Homosexuality is not widely accepted in central African society and some sexual acts between members of the same sex are illegal.

 

Photographing of military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited. Other photography requires a government permit.

 

You should carry identification at all times (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce ID can lead to detention by the police, or delays should you have to leave the country.

 

Money

 

CFA is the currency in use with in Chad and is pegged to the Euro at 656CFA=1 Euro.

 

When entering the country it is better to carry Euro than US dollars.

 

ATM's are available throughout the country in most major population centres, these may not however be open 24 hours.

 

Passport validity

 

Your passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry into Chad.

 

Yellow Fever

 

You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival. Failure to do so may result in a further vaccination being administered, for which a charge is made.

 

 

 

 

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