History of Chad–Cameroon Relations

The Origins (1960-1962)

Cameroon gained independence in 1960 and became a reunified state on 12 October 1961, unified on 20 May 1972. It was during this period of post-independence diplomatic development that diplomatic relations between Chad and Cameroon were established in 1962, shortly after both countries acceded to international sovereignty. That same decade saw Yaoundé build a network of diplomatic representations with numerous African and non-aligned states.

Strengthened Security Cooperation Against Boko Haram

Since the 2000s, and particularly since 2003, diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries has been structured around several areas, notably security and judicial cooperation. The security dimension intensified considerably in the face of a common threat: the Boko Haram terrorist sect, responsible for significant insecurity along the shared border, which led Cameroon to grant the Chadian army a right of pursuit against terrorists on its territory. This military cooperation was accompanied by a progressive strengthening of judicial cooperation between the two States.

Economic and Oil Partnership

On the economic front, the two countries have cooperated since the 2000s in the exploitation of oil fields located in the border area, through the "Chad-Cameroon" project — the pipeline connecting Chadian oil fields to the export terminal at Kribi, on the Cameroonian coast, carried out notably by the companies TOTCO (on the Chadian side) and COTCO (on the Cameroonian side).

A Relationship Marked by Diplomatic Tensions

Relations have not always been linear. In April 2023, Chad recalled its ambassador to Yaoundé for consultations, citing persistent disputes with Cameroon, particularly regarding the acquisition of former ESSO assets by the Savannah Energy group, as well as disagreements related to the governance of COTCO and TOTCO. N'Djamena denounced actions it considered contrary to Chadian interests within CEMAC institutions themselves. However, the episode was resolved quickly: Ambassador Djidda Moussa Outhman resumed his post in Yaoundé on 7 June 2023, marking the normal resumption of bilateral relations.

An Overall Solid and Multidimensional Relationship

Beyond these occasional episodes, the bilateral relationship remains structurally strong: shared membership in CEMAC and ECCAS, a long and porous border requiring coordinated management, a significant Chadian community established in Cameroon (particularly in the North, around Garoua), and major intersecting economic interests around the Chad-Cameroon oil corridor.