Chadian newspapers and media you can read online

In Chad, news is read mostly online, in French and Arabic: sites such as Tchadinfos, Alwihda Info and Journal du Tchad, weeklies like Le Pays, the ATPE agency and ONAMA public radio and television, all reachable from any browser.

Where did Chad's print press come from?

For a long time limited to official bulletins, the Chadian press diversified after the democratic opening of 1990. Private titles such as N'Djamena Bi-Hebdo and the daily Le Progrès then paved the way for an independent press, printed almost entirely in the capital.

Leading titles in N'Djamena

Le Progrès remains a landmark of the print press, while the weekly Le Pays publishes analysis and critical editorials. Their stances range from support for institutions to a more combative posture, so reading several titles helps you place each story in context.

French and Arabic, two languages of publication

French and Arabic are Chad's two official languages. Most newspapers appear in French, but Alwihda Info also publishes in Arabic, and radio stations use Chadian Arabic, Sara and other national languages to reach listeners across the whole country.

Moundou, Abéché, Sarh: news beyond the capital

Regional print media barely exists outside N'Djamena. In Moundou, Sarh or Abéché, community and faith-based radio stations keep residents informed, often in local languages, and the national news sites pick up their most significant reports for a wider audience.

Chadian news sites and smartphone reading

With few newsstands, digital-only outlets dominate: Tchadinfos, Tchad One, Tchad24, Ialtchad Presse and Tchad Vision publish around the clock on the web and through Facebook or WhatsApp. The smartphone has become the main way young urban Chadians read the news.

ATPE, the national news agency

The Chadian Press and Publishing Agency, known as ATPE, produces official dispatches on the work of the government, ministries and provinces. Public media reuse its copy, and it serves as a baseline for checking dates, appointments and official statements.

Public radio and television under ONAMA

The National Office of Audiovisual Media, ONAMA, brings together Chad National Radio and Télé Tchad. Their news bulletins in French and Arabic are followed nationwide, and part of the programming can be streamed live online from abroad.

Following Chad from the diaspora

Chadians living in France, Cameroon or Sudan follow events through national sites and social media. Regional coverage from African news media online and newspapers from neighbouring Cameroon usefully round out this reading for readers abroad.

Oil, the economy and football in the media

Chad has hardly any business daily: Doba oil, cotton and the state budget are covered by general news sites. Sport, especially football and the Sao, the national team, has dedicated sections on Tchadinfos and Alwihda for fans at home and abroad.

What rules govern Chadian journalists?

The sector is overseen by the High Authority for Media and Broadcasting, HAMA, which can suspend publications. Since the transition that began in April 2021, debates over press freedom have remained heated, and journalists' organisations take an active part in them.

Free reading or a subscription?

Almost all Chadian sites are free and funded by advertising. To go further, compare their reporting with media from Niger or Sudan and with RFI, widely heard on FM in N'Djamena, so you can cross-check sensitive facts before relying on them.

Cross-checking a story from Chad

Security news from Lake Chad or the Tibesti often surfaces first on social media. Wait for confirmation from ATPE, an established site or a recognised radio station before sharing it, and always check the publication date of what you read.

Following Chadian news step by step

1. Pick a general news site such as Tchadinfos and a more critical outlet such as Le Pays to compare viewpoints.
2. Add ATPE dispatches to get official announcements, decrees and appointments from the Chadian government.
3. Follow the Facebook pages or WhatsApp channels of Alwihda Info and Tchad One for quick alerts.
4. Stream Chad National Radio live online to hear the news bulletins in French and in Arabic.
5. Compare with coverage from neighbouring countries, notably Cameroon, Niger and Sudan, for cross-border stories.
6. Check the date, author and source of every article before passing on sensitive information about Chad.

What it costs to access Chadian media

Practical facts about Chad's media

• News languages: French and Arabic, plus Chadian Arabic and Sara on radio
• National agency: ATPE (Chadian Press and Publishing Agency)
• Public broadcasting: ONAMA, with Chad National Radio and Télé Tchad
• Regulator: HAMA, High Authority for Media and Broadcasting
• Time zone: West Africa Time, UTC+1, no daylight saving
• Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Common reading traps when following Chad

• Taking a rumour spread on WhatsApp for a news report when no established Chadian site and not ATPE has confirmed it.
• Mistaking a Facebook page that copies the logo of Alwihda Info or Tchadinfos for the genuine outlet.
• Reading ONAMA media as independent sources, when their first role is to relay official government communication.
• Sharing an old video of clashes in northern Chad as if it had been filmed this week.
• Forgetting that an article published late in N'Djamena may carry the next day's date depending on your time zone.

Your questions about the Chadian press