PressBridge

Chad’s General Directorate of the National Police has announced the launch of a large-scale nationwide operation aimed at monitoring foreign nationals across the country. The campaign seeks to verify the legality of visas and residency permits through extensive inspection and surveillance operations that will cover all provinces over a two-week period.

The security initiative comes amid heightened political and security tensions, as authorities warn of possible attempts to destabilize the country through political protests, armed movements, and the activities of certain foreign-linked networks operating within Chad.

Concerns were further amplified by recent statements from President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who warned of what he described as “internal and external maneuvers” targeting the country. The Chadian leader alleged that some members of the Chadian diaspora abroad were being manipulated by foreign actors in exchange for financial support to spread hate speech and incitement on social media platforms. Political observers believe these remarks were directed at opposition groups operating from France, particularly given the growing political and media activity of Chadian opposition figures in Paris in recent months.

Tensions intensified following a security operation carried out in the capital, N'Djamena, which led to the arrest of 82 foreign nationals, including four women, in the Ngueli district. The operation took place against the backdrop of mobilizations linked to the May 2 demonstrations organized by the GCAP coalition and other opposition parties under the slogan of “political change.” Security sources stated that the detainees had been living in shared accommodations after being relocated from other neighborhoods to avoid surveillance by security forces. Authorities also reportedly suspect some of those arrested of involvement in activities threatening domestic security.

According to political and security circles in N'Djamena, the arrests were not viewed as simple immigration violations but rather as part of intelligence findings suggesting a broader plan to create unrest in the country alongside recent opposition maneuvers. Local reports have also pointed to alleged coordination between political and armed groups, including the FACT movement, the GCAP coalition, and other organizations, with the aim of preparing actions that could go beyond conventional political activism.

France has once again emerged at the center of political debate in Chad, particularly after Paris and other French cities hosted a series of meetings and initiatives involving both political and armed Chadian opposition groups in recent months. One of the most notable gatherings took place in Nantes in October 2025, bringing together nearly twenty opposition organizations, including the FACT movement, in an effort to unify opposition efforts against the government of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.

Suspicion has also grown following announcements by opposition coalitions such as Wakit Tama and GCAP regarding plans to organize political mobilizations and demonstrations from Paris to other European capitals, at a time of escalating domestic tensions in Chad. Analysts say the sustained political and media activity of several opposition leaders operating from French territory is increasingly raising questions about the nature of France’s role in the current crisis.

The accusations gained further momentum after a conference organized by the FACT movement in Paris on May 9, 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of the group’s creation. The event featured sharply critical speeches against the Chadian authorities and was attended by opposition figures known for their hardline stance toward the government in N'Djamena. Several analysts argue that the timing of these overseas mobilizations alongside rising security disturbances inside Chad is no longer being viewed as mere political coincidence.

President Déby’s comments also followed deadly clashes in the Yigout area of the Ouaddaï province in eastern Chad. The violence reportedly left dozens dead amid growing concerns over arms proliferation and smuggling activities along the more than 1,500-kilometer border with Sudan. Local reports and sources have also raised suspicions of indirect support for networks linked to the deteriorating security situation in the region, while France continues to face recurring accusations of seeking to preserve its traditional influence in the Sahel through the exploitation of political and security crises.

Against this increasingly volatile backdrop, Chadian authorities appear determined to strengthen their security grip by intensifying surveillance of political activities and tightening controls on the foreign presence in the country, in an effort to prevent any scenario that could lead to wider instability or attempts to undermine the state.