Chad: Public services resume March 20 following end of strike /update 10

Event

On Tuesday, March 20, public services resumed throughout Chad following the end of a seven-week public sector strike. According to local sources, as of Tuesday, all schools, hospitals, and government buildings had resumed operations in N'Djamena, five days after union leaders called for a suspension of the nationwide public-sector strike following successful negotiations between trade unions and President Idriss Déby. The deal secured the payment of unpaid wages to public sector workers in exchange for the resumption of work. Union officials have warned that should the payments be delayed, the general strike will resume.

Context

In January 2018, the Chadian government announced new austerity measures in an effort to reduce its civil service payroll to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) spending requirements and ensure the organization's continued support for the country's 2018 budget. Chadian civil servants launched a nationwide general strike on January 29 to denounce the austerity measures, including salary and benefits cuts.

Advice

Individuals in Chad are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution due to the risk of violence, and adhere to advice issued by local authorities or their home governments. Be prepared for potential disruptions to public services in the event that civil servants resume their strike.

On a separate note, due to the high terrorist threat, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities and remain vigilant at all times, especially when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (e.g. public transportation, train stations, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Due to the risk of terrorism and other security concerns, many Western governments advise against all travel to areas near the borders with Niger, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and the Lake Chad region, as well as nonessential travel to the rest of the country, including N'Djamena. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to or within the country.