Mohamed Idriss Déby announces anti-corruption offensive

President Mohamed Idriss Deby Itno has pledged a “zero tolerance” policy on corruption in Chad, marking a new phase in his political agenda.

On the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Chad’s independence, President Mohamed Idriss Deby Itno In a landmark speech, President Donald Trump declared war on the corruption plaguing the country. He pledged a “zero tolerance” policy on the misappropriation of public funds and announced that the scourge would now be at the heart of his political agenda. For many, the declaration marked the beginning of a new era, but others remained skeptical about the implementation of these promises.

Civil society’s doubts

If the president’s speech sounded like a declaration of war on corruption, Chadian civil society was more cautious. Foullah Baba Isaac, coordinator of the Chadian Association against Corruption and Economic Embezzlement (Alcomet), stressed the need to first clean up government institutions before launching such a campaign. For him, the speech could only be a way to buy time rather than a real commitment to change the status quo.

The main difficulty in Chad’s fight against corruption remains impunity, a scourge that must be eradicated if the fight is to have a real impact, according to Professor Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, former Minister of Justice. The professor noted that the State lacks authority and has not effectively combated corruption, which remains tolerated and sometimes even protected. If the state is not strengthened and authority is not rebuilt, Chad will never be able to attract the investment it needs for development. “, he declared, adding that there are still some people who are enjoying the stolen goods with total impunity.

Commitment to take action, but trust needs to be built

In August 2024, the Chadian transitional authorities established an independent anti-corruption body and approved legal texts and instruments to strengthen the fight. However, despite these efforts, Chad is still ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International. The road to true transparency still seems long and full of pitfalls, and people are waiting for concrete actions to turn the president’s words into reality.