• Attack risks internet disruptions; investigation launched near Massakory
  
  
• EU-funded project aims to link Chad to regional and global networks
  

Chad's Ministry of Telecommunications reported a vandalism attack on a section of the Chad component of the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone (DTS) on Wednesday. It is the second such incident on the critical digital infrastructure in less than two weeks.

Both incidents occurred on the Massakory-Ngouri axis. The ministry stated in a Facebook post that a fiber optic chamber approximately 18 km from Massakory was vandalized, with perpetrators lifting slabs and cutting the cable without removing any equipment. A complaint has been filed and an investigation opened to determine responsibility.

The DTS project, 52% complete, is funded by the European Union with 28.9 million euros ($33.3 million). It involves building a 509-km backbone linking Massaguet to the Niger border and 50 km of network in the capital N'Djamena. The infrastructure aims to digitally connect landlocked Chad to submarine cables in the Mediterranean and to neighboring countries, including Niger, Nigeria, and Algeria.

Any disruption to this transport infrastructure threatens Chad's international internet capacity and can cause nationwide network disruptions. The country has experienced similar service interruptions from fiber cuts along its connection through Cameroon.

Vandalism of fiber optic infrastructure is common across Africa. Nigeria reported about 50,000 fiber cut incidents in 2024, prompting the government to criminalize deliberate damage to telecom infrastructure. Gambia adopted a protection policy in April 2023 with a minimum fine of 500,000 dalasis ($6,800) for network damage.

Chad's 2014 electronic communications law provides for prison sentences of one to five years and fines between 5 million CFA francs ($8,800) and 50 million CFA francs for intentionally interrupting electronic communications.

Isaac K. Kassouwi