On 4 November 2013, the Government of Chad alerted IOM on an imminent and forced return of Chadian irregular migrants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

On 29 October 2013, the Government of Chad through its Diplomatic Mission in the KSA received an official communication informing that within the crackdown campaign of irregular migrants in the country and the subsequent forcibly return to their home countries, Chadian migrants would also be affected. However, the total number in the caseload is, at this stage, not known.

Following this communication from the KSA, the Government of Chad decided to inform and seek assistance from IOM as the Migration Agency to support the Government in dealing with the situation. Moreover, the Government is in the process of creating an Inter-ministerial Committee that will include concerned Ministries, i.e., Foreign Affairs, Interior, Social Affair, Health and Finance and other relevant Government institutions.

The information was communicated to the IOM Mission in the Republic of Chad, through the Government-requested meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Chad, H.E. Mr. Joseph Djimrangar Dadnadji and the IOM Chief of Mission in Chad, Dr. Qasim Sufi that took place in the Office of the Prime Minister in N’Djamena (“Primature”) on Monday, 4 November 2013.

Ministers and Secretary of States of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Social Action, and Finance also participated in the meeting on behalf of the Government while the IOM Chief of Mission was accompanied by IOM National Officers for the Peace Building and MIDA projects in Chad, Mr. Mahamat Nour and Ms. Madeleine Alinghe.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Qasim Sufi
Chief of Mission, IOM Chad
Office: +235 22 52 53 59/60 (Ext. 111)
Mobile: +235 62 90 06 74
Fax: +235 22 52 53 61
Email: qsufi@iom.int