Relationship dossier
Central African Republic
Chad
Relationship assessment
A fragile relationship shaped by cross-border security concerns and Chad’s military role in the Central African Republic.
Central African Republic toward Chad
-15Central African authorities have raised serious concerns about Chadian involvement in the country’s conflict. A deadly 2021 border incident involving Chadian and Central African forces further strained relations.
Chad toward Central African Republic
-15Chad deployed forces in the Central African Republic and participated in regional peacekeeping, but its role in the conflict also drew accusations from Central African authorities. The 2021 border incident added to bilateral tensions.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship combines Chad’s military and peacekeeping involvement in the Central African Republic with recurring distrust over conflict-related allegations and border security. Cooperation has existed, but security disputes have repeatedly undermined confidence.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations have been shaped by Chad’s military involvement in the Central African Republic, including its participation in regional peacekeeping, as well as persistent security concerns along their shared border. The relationship has also faced serious strain over allegations concerning Chadian involvement in the Central African conflict and a deadly 2021 border incident. These episodes point to a mixed and often fragile relationship.
Areas of tension
- Allegations of Chadian involvement in the Central African conflict.
- The deadly 2021 incident involving Chadian and Central African forces near the border.
- Cross-border security and armed-group activity.
Key developments
Chadian forces participated in regional peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic.
A deadly border incident involving Chadian and Central African forces heightened tensions between the two governments.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of bilateral security cooperation are unclear.
- Responsibility and the subsequent handling of the 2021 border incident remain contested.