Chad and Libya have taken significant steps to deepen bilateral cooperation following high-level talks held in N’Djamena on Tuesday. The meeting between Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno and Libya’s Minister of Transport, Mohamed Salem Elshahubi, resulted in agreements aimed at reviving suspended air routes, boosting cross-border trade, and enhancing border security. For the first time in over a decade, the two nations plan to reopen direct commercial flights, a move expected to facilitate travel, business, and diplomatic exchanges. The restoration of air connectivity is seen as a cornerstone for broader economic engagement.
Discussions also focused on revitalizing trade links through the creation of new commercial corridors, especially across the historically active Sahel-Saharan trade routes. Officials underscored the need to streamline customs processes and support local economies on both sides of the border. Security was a central issue, with both parties pledging to strengthen cooperation in monitoring and securing their porous and often unstable shared border. The region has long been susceptible to arms trafficking, militant movements, and illegal migration, underscoring the urgency of coordinated surveillance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
President Déby Itno welcomed Libya’s outreach, calling it a “turning point in regional cooperation” and reaffirmed Chad’s commitment to implementing the agreed-upon projects swiftly. He emphasized the mutual benefits of a renewed partnership based on trust, regional peace, and strategic alignment. The visit by the Libyan delegation marks a new phase in relations between N’Djamena and Tripoli, following years of diplomatic stagnation due to internal conflicts in both countries. The meeting concluded with a joint statement reaffirming their intention to institutionalize regular dialogue and expand cooperation across key sectors.
