Chad Seeks Stronger Integration Into Sahel Security Structure

Oluwasegun SanusiAugust 15, 20251 Mins read572

Chad is moving closer to full integration with the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) through plans to host a regional security coordination centre in its capital, according to a source within the Chadian Ministry of Defence.

The National Security Agency (NSA) is reportedly in advanced talks with CSS partners, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on establishing the centre, which would oversee joint border security, operational intelligence sharing, and rapid response to cross-border threats.

The proposed facility would be equipped with modern surveillance technology to monitor border areas around the clock. It would also host liaison officers from each CSS member state, a move one official described as “a real integration of Chad into the CSS security structure, not just a technical arrangement.”

The development follows a recent diplomatic visit by Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno to Niger, which reinvigorated discussions on Chad’s possible formal accession to the CSS.

Over the past few years, N’Djamena has steadily expanded its cooperation with the alliance’s founding members. The CSS itself has been rapidly expanding its institutional reach, particularly in the realm of security.

It will be recalled that the Togolese government was reported to be making moves to join the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), a move aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and providing landlocked member states with access to the sea. Robert Dussey, the Togolese Foreign Minister, suggested during an interview with Voxafrica in January 2025.

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