Chad

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

762,731

2023

Asylum Applications

5,392

2023

International Migrants

547,494

2020

Population

18,300,000

2023

Overview

Chad ; According to UNHCR, Chad’s lack of “fully functioning legal and judicial mechanisms has often resulted in prolonged periods of detention suffered by forcibly displaced.” Other sources have reported arbitrary arrest, detention without due process, torture, and enforced disappearances of non-citizens in the country.

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Chad: Covid-19 and Detention

Chad’s geographic location–as Libya’s southern neighbour and located at a crossroads between east and west Africa–has resulted in a “a complex humanitarian crisis,” according to IOM, and one which is further impacted by the country’s severe economic problems. As of mid-2020, there were an estimated 133,000 internally displaced persons and 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers. […]

Read More…

B. Baloch, “Clashes in Sudan’s West Darfur force 2,500 to seek safety in Chad,” UNHCR,  11 August 2020, https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2020/8/5f3248204/clashes-sudans-west-darfur-force-2500-seek-safety-chad.html
Last updated:

DETENTION STATISTICS

Migration Detainee Entries
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
4,831
2011
4,775
2010
3,416
2005
3,883
2002
2,385
2000
2,530
1996
2,867
1994
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
1.3
2002
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
39
2011
43
2010
34
2005
43
2002
29
2000
35
1996
42
1994

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
18,300,000
2023
16,400,000
2020
14,037,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
547,494
2020
512,230
2019
517,000
2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
3.33
2020
3.7
2015
Refugees (Year)
762,731
2023
555,782
2021
478,649
2020
442,670
2019
451,210
2018
411,482
2017
391,235
2016
369,540
2015
452,897
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
26.99
2016
33.3
2014
Asylum Applications (Year)
5,392
2023
1,163
2019
164
2016
2,386
2014
Refugee Recognition Rate (Year)
100
2014
Stateless Persons (Year)
0
2022
0
2016
0
2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
1,024
2014
Remittances to the Country (in USD)
64,140
2014
Unemployment Rate
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
185 (Low)
2015

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Yes
2023
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2023
Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2017
Customary law
2017

GROUNDS FOR DETENTION

LENGTH OF DETENTION

DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs)

GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES

INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2019
2019
CRSSP, Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons
1999
2017
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2009
2017
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1981
2017
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1990
2017
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1995
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1995
2017
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1995
2017
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1995
2017
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1977
2017
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 10/19
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 1995
1995
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
1/6
2017
Relevant Recommendations or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee against Torture §34 [...] (e) Authorize the verification by United Nations led teams of the presence of children inmilitary camps, training centres and detention centres, as agreed by the State party inMay 2008 during the visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; (f) Ensure that refugee camps and sites for displaced persons are of a civilian and humanitarian nature and increase the security and protection of civilian populations both within and around them, given that such measures help in preventing the recruitment of children and in protecting them 2009
2009
2009

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
Yes 124.85 Conduct independent investigations into allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings by the security forces and law enforcement officers, particularly in detention facilities and camps for refugees and internally displaced persons (Ireland); ...... 2024 4th
2024
No 2014
2017
No 2009
2017

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Regional Legal Instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
Observation Date
ACRWC, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 2000
2000
2017
ACHPR, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1986
1986
2017

HEALTH CARE PROVISION

HEALTH IMPACTS

COVID-19

Country Updates
Chad’s geographic location--as Libya’s southern neighbour and located at a crossroads between east and west Africa--has resulted in a “a complex humanitarian crisis,” according to IOM, and one which is further impacted by the country’s severe economic problems. As of mid-2020, there were an estimated 133,000 internally displaced persons and 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Compounding pressures on the country, according to UNHCR, as of July 2020, 108,809 Chadiens had been returned to the country. Despite these challenges, Chad has had a reputation as traditionally having “a positive and welcoming attitude towards refugees.” It has also been a supporter of the Global Compact for Migration. To date, the GDP has been unable to establish the extent to which detention measures are used in Chad as part of immigration enforcement policies. Likewise, the GDP has found no details about whether any Covid-19-related measures have been taken in the country to safeguard people who are in custody for immigraiton reasons, including as part of deportation proceedings. UNHCR reported in July 2020 that no one of concern to their mandate, including refugees and returned Chadiens, had reported an infection. However, 47 persons of concerns had been placed in quarantine. On 24 March, visits to prisons were suspended and all public hearings of courts of justice were postponed. Between March and April, three collective escapes took place at the prisons of Amsinéné and Bongor following the suspension of visits. The Ministry of Justice announced on 9 April the release of more than 3,200 prisoners, as an “exceptional measure taken to respect the preventive measures instituted by the highest authorities of the country against the coronavirus pandemic.” This measure concerned vulnerable prisoners such as the elderly, minors, sick individuals, and pregnant women.