There is a considerable amount of roadway in Chad. As of 2018, there was 40,000 Km of road with roughly 206 Km of paved urban road. Of the 40,000 Km of road, 62.5% (25,000 Km) are national and regional roads while 37.5% (15,000 Km) are local roads. After 2018, however, little data are available on the actual size and material infrastructure of the road network. The primary authority on the maintenance and development of the national road network is the Ministry of Public Works. Despite the size of roadway, Chad suffers from an underdeveloped road network which is poorly connected to foreign markets. Flooding, which makes many roads impassable, and regional conflicts limit Chad’s road network capacity despite its geographical location.
National Road Network
The 25,000 km of roads of national or regional interest include 6,200 km of road in the National Structural Network and 18,800 km of road in the Regional Road Network (RRR). The National Structural Network is broken down into two categories: the Permanent National Network (2,578 km) and the Seasonal National Network (3,622 km).
Sections of the National Structural Network are outlined in the table below:
National Structural Network |
|
---|---|
Section |
Km |
N’Djamena to Djerdjeraba |
32.5 |
Djerdjeraba to Karal |
80 |
N’gueli to Walia to Farcha |
25 |
N’Djamena to Mandalia |
54 |
Mandalia to Kalgoa |
42 |
Kalgoa to Guelengdeng |
60 |
Guelengdeng to Bongor to Ere |
165 |
Ere to Kelo |
52 |
Kelo to Moundou |
100 |
Djerdjeraba to Massaguet |
46 |
Massaguet to N’Goura |
125 |
N’Goura to Bokoro |
106 |
Bokoro to Arboutchatak |
66 |
Arboutchatak to Bitkin |
77 |
Bitkin to Mongo |
61 |
Mongo to Mangalmé |
129 |
Mangalmé to Oum Hadjer |
115 |
Oum Hadjer to Abéché |
148 |
Massaguet to Massakory |
66 |
Moundou to Koutéré |
118 |
N’Djamena to Dourbali |
106 |
Moundou to Doba |
112 |
Doba to Koumra |
91 |
Koumra to Sarh |
113 |
Sarh to Banda to Maro to the Central African Republic border |
125 |
Kelo to Pala |
106 |
Pala to Cameroonian border |
122 |
Massakory to Bol |
186 |
Abéché to Sudanese border |
174 |
Abéché to Bilitine |
93 |
Aboudeia to Mongo |
123 |
Abeche to Am Zoer to Guereda to Iriba to Tiné |
295 |
Abeche to Goz Beida |
210 |
Abou Deia to Am Timan |
139 |
Ati to Mongo |
175 |
Bitkin to Melfi |
132 |
Binder to Léré |
134 |
Bongor to the Cameroon border |
7 |
Kélo to Gounou Gaya to Tikem |
110 |
Djoumane to Laï to Gabri Ngolo |
108 |
Gabri Ngolo to Doba |
93 |
Ham to Fianga |
77 |
Dourbali to Massenya |
59 |
Fianga to Pala |
74 |
Goz Beida to Am Timan |
215 |
Doba to Goré |
45 |
Kélo to Laï |
60 |
Kélo to Doher to Benoye to Moundou |
100 |
Koumra to Moissala |
75 |
Laï to Koumra |
199 |
Mbaikoro to Gore to Békoninga |
205 |
Mogo to Kouno |
320 |
Ngoura to Ati to Oum Hadjer |
400 |
Sarh to Banda |
714 |
Sarh to Kyabé |
101 |
Ngouri to Mao |
60 |
Aboudeia to Mangalmé |
141 |
Am Timan to Haraze Mangueye |
157 |
Kemdéré to Moïssala |
199 |
Massakory to Moussoro |
135 |
The 15,000 km of regional, feeder roads of local interest include two networks: rural and urban. These feeder roads are managed by local authorities with some technical and financial support from the Chadian government.
Rural Road Network
The network is typically used for the transport of agricultural products from villages to rural markets and is generally carried out by rudimentary means of transport (man, animal, cart, rickshaw, tote). More developed routes, because of constant traffic, typically have motorized transport is generally applied. Rural transport in Chad is centered around weekly markets. Rural communities are usually within 30 km of the nearest market. Traffic on rural roads is generally very low except on market days.
Distance Matrix
Distances from Major Towns (km) |
||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N’Djamena |
Ati |
Abeche |
Moundou |
Sarh |
Doba |
Bongor |
Faya-Largeau |
Mongo |
Mao |
Fada |
Moussoro |
Bardai |
Bol |
Goz Beida |
Massakory |
||
N’Djamena |
|
27 |
748 |
473 |
561 |
500 |
240 |
775 |
510 |
312 |
890 |
300 |
1059 |
330 |
951 |
144 |
||
Ati |
27 |
|
312 |
908 |
715 |
915 |
674 |
533 |
175 |
593 |
556 |
332 |
907 |
611 |
540 |
425 |
||
Abeche |
748 |
312 |
|
1219 |
929 |
1129 |
985 |
489 |
389 |
904 |
382 |
643 |
918 |
922 |
210 |
735 |
||
Moundou |
473 |
908 |
1219 |
|
310 |
112 |
234 |
1084 |
848 |
783 |
1119 |
771 |
1415 |
801 |
883 |
615 |
||
Sarh |
561 |
715 |
929 |
310 |
|
200 |
419 |
981 |
541 |
867 |
956 |
768 |
1361 |
885 |
557 |
699 |
||
Doba |
500 |
915 |
1129 |
112 |
200 |
|
260 |
1043 |
741 |
810 |
1079 |
798 |
1402 |
828 |
777 |
642 |
||
Bongor |
240 |
674 |
985 |
234 |
419 |
260 |
|
945 |
747 |
549 |
1023 |
537 |
1241 |
568 |
995 |
381 |
||
Faya-Largeau |
775 |
533 |
489 |
1084 |
981 |
1043 |
945 |
|
635 |
591 |
275 |
555 |
443 |
681 |
678 |
655 |
||
Mongo |
510 |
175 |
389 |
848 |
541 |
741 |
747 |
635 |
|
666 |
637 |
405 |
1033 |
684 |
443 |
497 |
||
Mao |
312 |
593 |
904 |
783 |
867 |
810 |
549 |
591 |
666 |
|
753 |
456 |
816 |
350 |
1107 |
168 |
||
Fada |
890 |
556 |
382 |
1119 |
956 |
1079 |
1023 |
275 |
637 |
753 |
|
669 |
668 |
844 |
559 |
783 |
||
Moussoro |
300 |
332 |
643 |
771 |
768 |
798 |
537 |
555 |
405 |
456 |
669 |
|
857 |
474 |
846 |
287 |
||
Bardai |
1059 |
907 |
918 |
1415 |
1361 |
1402 |
1241 |
443 |
1033 |
816 |
668 |
857 |
|
912 |
1111 |
933 |
||
Bol |
330 |
611 |
922 |
801 |
885 |
828 |
568 |
681 |
684 |
350 |
844 |
474 |
912 |
|
1125 |
186 |
||
Goz Beida |
951 |
540 |
210 |
883 |
577 |
777 |
995 |
678 |
443 |
1107 |
559 |
846 |
1111 |
1125 |
|
939 |
||
Massakory |
144 |
425 |
735 |
615 |
699 |
642 |
381 |
655 |
497 |
168 |
783 |
287 |
933 |
186 |
939 |
|
Travel Time from Major Towns by Passenger Car (hours) |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N’Djamena |
Ati |
Abeche |
Moundou |
Sarh |
Doba |
Bongor |
Mongo |
N’Djamena |
|
6:30 |
10:53 |
8:02 |
10:23 |
8:39 |
4:58 |
7:37 |
Ati |
6:30 |
|
4:29 |
14:27 |
11:12 |
14:19 |
11:22 |
2:58 |
Abeche |
10:53 |
4:29 |
|
18:48 |
13:39 |
16:45 |
15:44 |
5:25 |
Moundou |
8:02 |
14:27 |
18:48 |
|
4:59 |
2:03 |
3:04 |
13:13 |
Sarh |
10:23 |
11:12 |
13:39 |
4:59 |
|
3:07 |
6:08 |
8:22 |
Doba |
8:39 |
14:19 |
16:45 |
2:03 |
3:07 |
|
3:41 |
11:28 |
Bongor |
4:58 |
11:22 |
15:44 |
3:04 |
6:08 |
3:41 |
|
12:33 |
Mongo |
7:37 |
2:58 |
5:25 |
13:13 |
8:22 |
11:28 |
12:33 |
|
Travel Time from Major Towns by Truck (hours) |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N’Djamena |
Ati |
Abeche |
Moundou |
Sarh |
Doba |
Bongor |
Mongo |
N’Djamena |
|
12 |
18 |
10 |
18 |
16 |
6 |
10 |
Ati |
12 |
|
6 |
22 |
30 |
26 |
18 |
4 |
Abeche |
18 |
6 |
|
28 |
36 |
32 |
24 |
8 |
Moundou |
10 |
22 |
28 |
|
8 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
Sarh |
18 |
28 |
36 |
8 |
|
4 |
12 |
28 |
Doba |
16 |
26 |
28 |
4 |
4 |
|
8 |
26 |
Bongor |
6 |
22 |
28 |
4 |
12 |
8 |
|
18 |
Mongo |
10 |
4 |
8 |
20 |
30 |
26 |
18 |
|
Road Security
Roads are relatively unsafe in Chad. Car and motorbike accidents, thefts, and robberies are common. Typically, unpaved, and unlit road sections experience more accidents and crimes. Most accidents are the result of poor road conditions, speeding, or overloading of vehicles.
The severity of insecurity depends on the location. In the northern and eastern (bordering Sudan) part of Chad, military escorts are mandatory. In these regions, insurgent groups have been known to attempt kidnappings.
Weighbridges
Maximum Authorized Load (PTAC) |
Size of Truck |
---|---|
32 Tons |
Height: 4 m Width: 2.5 m |
In case the PTAC obligations are not followed, penalties can be imposed. The penalty thresholds can be seen in the table below:
Overweight (> 5 tons) |
Overweight between 5 and 10 tons |
Overweight (> 10 tons) |
---|---|---|
25,000 CFA/ extra ton |
50,000 CFA/ extra ton |
75,000 CFA/ extra ton |
Axle Load Limits
Axle Load Limits |
LCA Country (Chad) |
Transit Country #1 (Cameroon) |
---|---|---|
Truck with 2 Axles |
21 tons |
21 tons |
Truck with 3 Axles |
32 tons |
27 tons |
Semi-trailer with 3 Axles |
32 tons |
27 tons |
Road Class
Classification |
Administering Agency |
Local Description |
---|---|---|
National Roads (Asphalt) |
Ministry of Public Works |
Found in Ndjamena to 5 towns (Abeche, Massakory, Bongor, Koutere, and Sarh) |
National Roads (Gravel) |
Ministry of Public Works |
Found mainly in the southern part of the country between main towns |
Regional and Departmental Roads (levelled sand) |
Regional Authorities |
Typically, regional roads are between towns and are mostly compacted and developed from constant traffic |
Rural Roads (grass and sand) |
Local Authorities |
Roads with little to no infrastructure that are between villages |
Surface Conditions
The road network is comprised of asphalt, laterite, gravel, or stabilized sand with levelling occurring during the dry season. During the wet season, interior roads are often cut off by heavy rains and flooding. Throughout this period only paved roads remain passable.
Rain Barriers
Heavy rains during the wet season sometimes warrant government mandated rain barriers. By legal national decree in 2008, the Ministry of Public Works was named the rain barrier declaring authority. Civilian traffic is asked to abide by the rules and regulations of the rain barrier, however special cases can be granted by the Ministry of Public Works in the case of emergency. Passenger car restrictions typically last no longer than 2 hours. Commercial truck restrictions vary depending on a variety of factors (road frequency, condition, and overall security). Therefore, trucks can be stopped for longer periods of time.
In case of violation of the decree, the government can impose the following penalties:
-
500,000 CFA fine to be paid by the vehicle owner
-
Revocation of the driver’s license
-
Participation in the rehabilitation of the road section damaged by the vehicle
Ouadi (drifts)
In Chad, the main constraints of road transport during the rainy season are Ouadis. Essentially, Ouadis are mudslides that can reach up to 3 meters. During times of heavy rains (typically between July and October), Ouadis can make roads completely inaccessible and cause significant damages. Some of the most famous Ouadis include the Moutarare and Amdout located in the East. The table below identifies some of the most notorious Ouadis in Chad.
Location |
Name of Ouadi |
---|---|
Bokoro |
Bang-Bang |
Moussoro |
Amsilep 1 and 2 |
Abeche to Oum Hadjer |
Disko |
Abeche to Oum Hadjer |
Kao |
Abeche to Farchana |
Chope |
Abeche to Farchana |
Moura |
Farchana to Adre |
Farcha |