Chad

What does persecution look like in Chad?

In Chad’s unstable and increasingly authoritarian context, Christians – especially converts – face layered forms of persecution. Christians are subject to surveillance, harassment and arbitrary repression. Conflict in the southwest has stoked intercommunal tensions. Violence between Christian and non-Christian communities has resulted in displacement, property destruction and cycles of retaliation.

Islamic extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), remain active around the Lake Chad Basin. These groups continue to attack Christian villages, burn churches and abduct believers, particularly in rural zones with limited state protection. Their actions contribute to insecurity and religious polarisation.

Additionally, authoritarian policies add additional pressure, and several factors like corruption and crime have made the rule of law less trustworthy.

Christian converts in Muslim-majority regions face threats, beatings and forced concealment. Even private worship can trigger punishment.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

In Chad’s border regions around Lake Chad, Islamic extremists, including Boko Haram, continue to operate, with foreign fighters expanding their reach. In central Chad, churches encounter opposition from followers of traditional African religions, who resist Christian outreach. Religious identity closely follows political geography: the north remains predominantly Muslim, while the south is mostly Christian. Muslim-background converts in eastern and northern Chad must worship in secret to avoid persecution and rejection by their families. Converts from traditional religions in the south face significant pressure to participate in non-Christian rituals.

Meet IDPs in Chad, worshipping after an attack

"For me as a Christian, the earth is an exile. But everything is good. We must walk from peril to peril."

IDPs in Chad after an attack that left 30 Christians dead.

What has changed this year?

Chad climbed one place on this year’s World Watch List, as its persecution score rose slightly. Chad’s legal and political environment continues to be highly repressive, marked by hostility, restrictions on free expression and assembly, and widespread nepotism. In June 2025, several street evangelists were arrested and accused of espionage. Poverty is acute, and the country remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters and regional instability.

Although Chad is constitutionally secular, Islam is the dominant religion and permeates social and political life. Christians, who are often viewed as outsiders or aligned with foreign agendas, face hostility. In this climate, believers – especially converts from Islam – are subject to increasing pressure, including social ostracism, threats or physical attacks. Churches report tight surveillance, and evangelical communities often encounter barriers to registration. In the south west, tensions between Christian and Muslim communities have escalated into violence, contributing to broader insecurity and deepening mistrust. This year alone, there were several attacks and conflicts.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Chad?

Open Doors works through local churches in Chad to offer persecution-preparedness training, economic empowerment programmes and other support to help Christians understand persecution and remain resilient.

How can you pray for Chad?

• Believers who follow Jesus in regions where Islamic extremists are active can be targeted for violence. Pray that God will change the hearts of these militants and that His people will be protected.
• Christians in some parts of Chad who convert from Islam can face heavy pressure from their families and communities. Ask God to give these believers hope and peace.
• Chad experiences instability in part because its neighbouring countries face violence and displacement crises. Pray that God’s hand will be on this part of sub-Saharan Africa, that His peace that passes understanding will help the church in Chad remain strong and show Christ’s hope to the whole nation.