Relations between Switzerland and Chad are good and focus mainly on development cooperation and peace promotion.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Chad
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Under its Africa Strategy 2025–28, Switzerland maintains good relations with Chad, particularly in the areas of development cooperation, humanitarian aid and peace promotion.
Africa Strategy 2025-2028 (PDF, 40 Pages, 3.8 MB, English)
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers who are citizens of Chad can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Peace promotion
Switzerland has been involved in peace promotion work in Chad for many years. Since 2023, it has played a facilitating role as part of a presidential mandate to provide good offices. This mandate covers dialogue and the prevention of violence, security sector reform and DDR, in conjunction with efforts to transform public governance with a view to strengthening peace, security and social cohesion.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Chad is a priority country for Swiss international aid. Switzerland has been engaged in the country since 1964. The aim of Swiss cooperation in Chad is to strengthen democracy and resilience at state level, and to improve the living conditions of the population in a sustainable manner. It promotes governance and peace, access to basic social services, food security and economic development, while providing humanitarian aid to populations affected by crises and forced displacement.
Switzerland has also mobilised funds to deal with the effects in Chad of the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
Swiss citizens in Chad
According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 31 Swiss citizens were living in Chad at the end of 2024 and 86 citizens of Chad were living in Switzerland.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland recognised Chad in 1960 and established diplomatic relations with it in 1963. Chad has been a priority country for Swiss development cooperation since 1964. Switzerland opened a cooperation office in N'Djamena in 1984.
Despite the conclusion of bilateral agreements on trade, investment protection and technical cooperation, trade remains limited.
