Timbuktu Institute Week 1 - March 2026

In a statement released on 5 March, the Chadian Prime Minister announced the resignation of the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Vocational Training, Tom Erdimi. Although no official reasons were given, this resignation is probably linked to the recent abandonment of a higher education reform project. Since taking office, Minister Tom Erdimi had clearly demonstrated his desire to reform the sector. It was in this context that, in July 2025, the Chadian government signed a decree establishing the decentralisation of the National Centre for University Works (CNOU), which is managed from N'Djamena. With this reform of the body responsible for managing and supporting student life, particularly in terms of housing, food, health and social activities, the former minister wanted to transfer part of this management to the regions and local economic actors. A former rebel leader and co-founder of the Union of Resistance Forces, Erdimi joined Mahamat Idriss Déby's transitional government in October 2022 following the Doha peace process. In this case, his resignation raises questions about internal tensions within the executive branch. Furthermore, it is legitimate to ask to what extent the decentralisation of university resources can succeed in Chad in an institutional context where arbitration decisions appear to lack transparency.

Security and diplomatic fronts

On the night of 2 March 2026, a Chadian army unit deployed in the Lake region repelled an attack by Boko Haram, neutralising eight members of the group and recovering a large arsenal. One Chadian soldier was killed and two others wounded in the clash. The information was confirmed directly by President Mahamat Idriss Déby via his social media accounts, who paid tribute to the soldier who fell in battle and reaffirmed Chad's determination to continue the fight against the jihadist group Boko Haram.

At the same time, as relations between Chad and Libya have continued to warm in recent months, a new step has been taken. On 5 March, Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah received the new Chadian ambassador, Taher Issu Youssouf, marking the resumption of diplomatic representation between the two countries after a hiatus of nearly 14 years without an ambassador in post. During the meeting, both sides expressed their desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation, given the importance of stability in the Sahel-Libyan corridor for both countries.

This is part of the intense diplomatic activity deployed by N'Djamena since the beginning of the year, fully aware of its strategic position in the region, in a context marked by the reshaping of security alliances and the continuing evolution of the jihadist threat.