On the 20th April 2021, Idriss Déby Itno, the President of Chad for three decades died from wounds he reportedly suffered on the frontline against rebel fighters. His death could leave a power vacuum in a region that is already rife with instability, fuelling more uncertainty, violence, geopolitical posturing, and criminal opportunity in the Sahel.

Chad is a major hub for trafficking activities including drugs, people, gold and vehicles. The porous borders at the extremities contain mercenary groups and bandits, many situated around the vast artisanal gold mines in the north. The death of Déby will reshape the illicit economies not only in Chad, but the entire region.

Presenter: Lindy Mtongana

Speakers:

Dr Remadji Hoinathy, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, where he covers West Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin

Jerome Tubiana, Independent Researcher, specialising in Chad, Sudan and Libya.

Emad Badi, Senior Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Alice Fereday, Senior Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Alexandre Bish, Senior Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Reading:

Déby’s death will fuel instability and criminal opportunity in the Sahel (GITOC, Alexandre Bish)

After the storm: Organized crime across the Sahel-Sahara following upheaval in Libya and Mali (GITOC)

Democracy in Chad takes a back seat to military might (ISS Africa, Dr Remadji Hoinathy)

Who are Chad’s FACT rebels and what are their goals? (Al Jazeera)

Links:

North Africa and the Sahel Observatory (NAS-Obs)

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Producer: Jack Meegan-Vickers