Latest news with #MahamatIdrissDéby
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Chad Suspends U.S. Visas After Trump Revives Travel Ban on 12 Countries
Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby announced on Thursday that his government will suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens. The decision comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump reintroduced a travel ban targeting 12 countries, including Chad, citing national security concerns. President Trump's policy—which echoes a controversial hallmark of his first term—targets countries he claims have 'deficient' screening and vetting procedures or have historically failed to repatriate their citizens who overstay U.S. visas. The list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additional travel restrictions will be imposed on visitors from seven other nations. Chad's President, in a strongly worded statement posted on Facebook, declared the suspension of U.S. visa processing in Chad, framing it as an issue of national dignity and sovereignty. 'Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give—but Chad has his dignity and pride,' Déby wrote, making a pointed reference to a $400 million luxury aircraft gifted by Qatar to his administration. The announcement has added to a wave of criticism from African nations affected by the ban. In the Republic of Congo, government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla called the U.S. decision a 'mistake,' attributing it to a misunderstanding involving an armed attack in the United States. He asserted that Congo is neither a terrorist hub nor associated with any extremist activities, and expects diplomatic clarification soon. Sierra Leone, which faces heightened travel restrictions rather than a full ban, also responded diplomatically. Information Minister Chernor Bah affirmed the country's commitment to working with U.S. authorities to address concerns and ensure progress on bilateral relations. The renewed travel ban is expected to take effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. Washington time. Analysts predict this move will further strain U.S. relations with several African and Middle Eastern nations, especially as they voice concerns about fairness, transparency, and the implications for diplomacy and migration.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Professor Benedict Oramah honoured with Chad's prestigious ‘Commander of the National Order of Chad' award
The President of the Republic of Chad, His Excellency Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, has conferred on President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( Professor Benedict Oramah, the prestigious national honours award of Commander by appointing him to the National Order of Chad, under the Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, for his`1yyyyh outstanding contributions to the Chadian and African economies. The rank of Commander (Commandeur) is a high distinction within this order, reflecting significant and sustained achievements while the National Order of Chad is a prestigious state honour awarded by the Republic of Chad to recognize exceptional service or contributions to the nation. Reflecting on Chad's 2022 political transition, President Idriss Derby Itno, expressed profound gratitude to Prof. Oramah and Afreximbank for standing with the country. He noted, 'When other international lenders fled at the height of the unfortunate socio-political conflicts, Afreximbank stood firmly behind our country, continuing to push vital investments that now underpin the rapid socioeconomic recovery of our nation.' While acknowledging the award, Professor Oramah said: 'This honour is not just a recognition of my efforts, but a testament to the collective resolve of Afreximbank and its partners to transform Chad's economy and empower its people. While I am deeply humbled by this honour, it is a call to duty. It was a reminder to the Bank to do even more to accelerate the structural transformation of the Chadian and the wider African economies.' Chad became a member state of Afreximbank during the 36th African Union Summit where Afreximbank pledged to support strategic development projects in agriculture and livestock, two key pillars of Chad's economy, to drive sustainable growth and economic diversification. Afreximbank reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing Chad's economic development through targeted investments, trade facilitation, and institutional capacity-building, ensuring shared prosperity and resilience in the years ahead. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Follow us on: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
See - Sada Elbalad
21-02-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egypt Unveils Landmark Overland Route Project Linking Cairo to Chad
Egypt has announced an ambitious overland route project connecting Cairo to Chad, passing through Libya, in a move aimed at boosting regional trade and economic integration across North and Central Africa. The project was unveiled during high-level discussions in N'Djamena between Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Industry, Kamel El-Wazir, and Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby. El-Wazir emphasized that the initiative reflects Egypt's commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering regional economic collaboration. The proposed route will be constructed in three key segments: - Egyptian Segment: Covering 400 kilometers within Egypt's borders. - Libyan Segment: Extending 390 kilometers through Libya. - Chadian Segment: Spanning 930 kilometers from the Libyan border through major Chadian towns, including Amdjarass and Abéché. President Déby hailed the project as a cornerstone for economic integration, envisioning N'Djamena as a vital trade hub. He also welcomed collaboration with Egyptian companies renowned for their infrastructure and transportation expertise. Construction has already begun on the Egyptian segment, particularly from East Oweinat toward the Libyan frontier. The Arab Contractors Company, an Egyptian firm, has secured agreements with Libyan and Chadian authorities to conduct feasibility studies and design work for their respective sections. The overland route is expected to transform trade dynamics in Central Africa, granting landlocked countries improved access to global markets through the Red and Mediterranean Seas. Experts anticipate the project will stimulate economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and strengthen diplomatic ties among Egypt, Libya, and Chad. This strategic collaboration highlights a shared vision for a more interconnected and prosperous Africa, with Cairo playing a pivotal role in driving regional development.
Euronews
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
France's military forced out of Sahel region as it closes base in Chad
France has finally ended its 60-year military presence in Chad by closing its last military base there. Kosseï camp in the capital N'Djamena was also the last of its bases in the Sahel, which were themselves a legacy of France's domination of the region as the main colonial power there. On Friday the last of nearly 1,000 French soldiers left. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby's decided last November to terminate defence cooperation agreements with its former coloniser, after a tide of anti-French sentiment. This decision was part of an historic regional trend: since 2022 with the French army withdrawing from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The withdrawals could also continue; in recent weeks, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire have announced they want French forces to leave their countries too. "The countries of the region are seeking to establish new links, forge new alliances and chart their own course," explains Euronews journalist Jeremiah Fisayo Bambi. These countries "want to guarantee their own sovereignty and be able to make their own choices, make their own decisions." While the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that came to power after a coup d'état sought a break with France, Chad does not seem to be seeking to cut all ties, with N'Djamena referring to it as matter of "sovereignty". The tone in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire towards Paris appears identical. This "sends a strong signal that they no longer want the presence of French troops", stresses Nina Wilén, director of the Africa programme at the Egmont Institute. "Afterwards, we saw that the French embassy in Mali is staying. There is still cooperation with France, so that doesn't mean we're cutting all ties," the French analyst added. The impact on the European Union Chad's withdrawal was a blow to the French authorities but it also means a loss of influence in West Africa for the European Union. "I think that many European Union leaders have been hiding behind France (...) for the last ten years. France has led the biggest operation against terrorism in the Sahel, which has helped many European countries that did not want to invest to put troops on the ground themselves", Nina Wilén said. But Wilén says Europe is also to blame. "On the one hand, France made a mistake in how it dealt with the various countries and their leaders, and above all, in its attitude towards them. But there is also a European willingness, or more generally a European unwillingness, to invest in these countries". France and the EU must maintain their influence, as the departure of the French forces opens the door to other international players. All eyes are on Russia. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner, renamed Africa Corps after the death of its leader, is said to have 5,000 fighters on the African continent.
