Chad and Libya have agreed to resume direct air links and expand trade cooperation following high-level talks in Tripoli, marking a significant step toward rebuilding economic and security ties between the two neighbors.
Chad’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul arrived in the Libyan capital on 19 August for a two-day official visit, during which he met his counterpart, Taher Salem Elbaour, and Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.
The discussions covered security, migration, trade, and consular and judicial matters, with both sides pledging to strengthen collaboration against terrorism, cross-border organized crime, and the trafficking of arms and humans. The situation of Chadian detainees in Libya was also raised during the talks, according to Libya Herald.
A central outcome of the visit was the agreement to restart direct flights between N’Djamena and Tripoli after a years-long hiatus. The first direct flight was reportedly scheduled for August 21. The two governments also discussed opening a Chadian office in the Misrata Free Zone, a step intended to facilitate trade and investment.
The ministers emphasized the need to establish a dry port in Misrata to streamline freight transport and integrate Chad more deeply into Libyan supply chains. The project is seen as a key driver for reducing transit times and costs for Chad, a landlocked country seeking alternative routes to Mediterranean markets beyond traditional southern corridors.
Chad has recently secured a $127 million facility from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to develop special industrial zones and trade corridors linking it to Libya and Egypt, underscoring the strategic priority of northward connectivity.
Both countries face shared challenges in the Sahel–Sahara belt, including smuggling networks and militant activity along porous borders. The talks reiterated commitments to joint efforts on border security and regional stability, aligning with broader African Union initiatives to address insecurity in the Sahel.
The revival of direct flights and trade infrastructure comes as Libya’s Government of National Unity seeks to normalize external relations and expand economic partnerships, while Chad pursues diversification of its trade routes. Officials framed the agreements as mutually beneficial, with potential gains for transport, commerce, and security on both sides of the border.
