• Chad is negotiating a digital partnership with Azerbaijan focused on a national datacenter, infrastructure modernization and e-government services.

• The country is rolling out “Tchad Connexion 2030”, a USD 1.5 billion digital investment plan aiming to boost connectivity and modernize public services.

• Chad ranks 189th out of 193 on the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index, underscoring the scale of its digital transformation challenges.

Chad is stepping up regional and international cooperation to accelerate its digital transformation strategy, the government said as it explored a new partnership with Azerbaijan at the World Telecommunication Development Conference held from November 17 to 28.

Officials from both countries discussed three priorities: developing a modern national data center, upgrading digital infrastructure and deploying e-government services for citizens and public agencies. Adoum Djimet Saboun, director-general of the ICT Development Agency (ADETIC), said Chad aims to leverage Azerbaijan’s technical expertise to implement concrete projects, strengthen local skills and accelerate digitalization.

On November 26, Telecommunications Minister Boukar Michel met with William Flens, chargé d’affaires of the United States in Chad, to reaffirm plans to expand cooperation and attract greater participation from American technology companies in local digital initiatives.

Chad also joined the drafting meeting of foundational texts for the new Central African Digital Development Entities Conference (CADNAC) from November 25 to 26. The planned platform will promote inter-state cooperation, pool expertise, strengthen public digital policies and support regional digital sovereignty, ADETIC said.

Earlier, from November 17 to 18, the government participated in the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in Cotonou, where Minister Michel advocated for stronger interconnection between Central and West Africa through fiber-optic infrastructure, data centers and digital corridors. He highlighted opportunities in artificial intelligence and agritech to boost youth employment and innovation.

Since January, Chad has expanded collaboration with partners including the ITU, Guinea-Bissau, the UAE, Greece, Cameroon, the UNDP, Kenya, CEMAC member states on free roaming, India and Canada.

The surge in cooperation comes as Chad positions the digital sector as a catalyst for socio-economic development. The government recently unveiled “Tchad Connexion 2030,” a $1.5 billion national plan to raise the country into Africa’s leading economies within six years, expand network coverage and fully digitize public and semi-public services.

Despite this ambition, Chad ranks 189th out of 193 countries on the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.1785—below African and global averages. The country also sits in Tier 4, the second-lowest category, of the 2024 ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, scoring 48.67/100. While it shows progress in legislative frameworks and cooperation, it must strengthen technical and organizational capabilities.

Many cooperation initiatives remain at an early stage. Chad and Azerbaijan agreed to formalize their partnership through a memorandum of understanding, but no timeline has been announced.

This article was initially published in French  by Isaac K.Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum