Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC March 6, 2018 Today, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced nearly $533 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria, as well as countries in the Lake Chad region, where millions are facing life-threatening food insecurity and malnutrition as a …

       Chadian National Army personnel completed five days of multiple week-long training at the end of September at the Loumia Training Center.  The purpose of the training was to enable the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) to prepare for and conduct peacekeeping operation training necessary for their MINUSMA mission. The training included practical exercises in …

U.S. Embassy N’Djamena Chad seeks instructors to provide language classes in French and Chadian Arabic. Duration and Location of Service Instructors will provide a combined total of 700 hours of training. Instruction will take place on the Embassy compound, from Monday through Friday, during normal business hours. No services will be rendered on U.S. or …

The US Civil-Military Support Element and the Special Anti-Terrorism Group Action Civilo Militaire donated books to the Bardai Primary School while visiting the village to assess medical care and essential services in the area. The two teams will work to continue to provide support to the local population and increase Chad’s capacity to provide these …

Ambassador Knight traveled by aircraft to Faya Largeau December 7 in order to participate in the opening of a three-day workshop targeting traditional leaders in the Borkou and Tibesti Regions of Chad’s far north.  The workshop was organized by the civil-military unit of the Chadian Special Anti-Terrorist Group (SATG) with funding support and technical assistance …

In November 2015, Pol/Econ received from PAS three packages of books to share with two grammar schools and an English Learning Center during a site visit in the south. The Grants Assistant that organized that site visit offered these books to the institutions that have made the request (Kélo, Bessada and Sarh). Indeed, schools in …

Ambassador Knight attended an October 22 awards ceremony recognizing best practices of local governments to promote transparency and civic engagement.  The event, held at the Cinema Normandie theater in N’Djaména, was organized by the USAID Peace through Development (PDev II) project that builds individual and community resilience to violent extremism.  Following a theatrical sketch which generated …

PAS N’Djamena held an early commemoration of the International Day of the Girl (IDG) to encourage female empowerment with a panel discussion on girls’ rights, bringing together 100 teen girls and their female teachers from various high schools and English clubs throughout N’Djamena. Ambassador James Knight opened the program in the Residence garden by welcoming …

On September 30, 2015, Ambassador James Knight attended a mosquito net donation at SOS Village d’Enfants in N’Djamena.  The donation was a joint venture between the U.S. Embassy N’Djamena and local medical center Europ Assistance to decrease malaria cases.  Two hundred mosquito nets were donated to orphaned children living at the facility, as well as …

Ambassador James Knight welcomed back eight teenage Muslim girls from their three-week long Women2Women exchange program in Boston, MA, and explained the significance of this program to the 13 media organizations present.  In turn, the girls elaborated about the brief but intense “W2W” experience — leadership workshops, conflict resolution seminars, and trust building exercises.  They …

PAS N’Djamena organized a pre-departure briefing for the eight Women2Women 2015 delegates. Beside the delegates, the event brought together one W2W alumna – who will be a staff intern this year — ten reporters from local media organizations and Embassy staff.  The PAO introduced the Ambassador who gave welcoming remarks and congratulated the delegates on …

Ambassador Knight participated in a June 26 press conference to highlight an ongoing operation in Chad led by the World Food Program (WFP) and funded from a $1 million grant provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  The grant funds WFP’s purchase of grain from Chadian farmers in regions of the country …

On the occasion of Ramadan, Ambassador Knight who was accompanied by the Acting Public Affairs Officer, Louis Lantner paid a courtesy call on the Grand Imam of Chad who is also the President of the High Council for Islamic Affairs in Chad. Ambassador Knight presented his condolences on the death of Chadian police officers and …

Today, May 13th 2015, U.S. Brigadier General Donald Bolduc, the Special Operations Command-Africa (SOCAF) commander based in Stuttgart, Germany, met with Chef d’Etat-Major General des Armees (CEMGA) Major General Brahim Seid Mahamat in N’Djamena to discuss the United States’ ongoing partnership with Chadian military forces.  CEMGA works directly with President Idriss Deby to ensure the …

The U.S. Embassy Chad celebrated World Press Freedom Day by arranging a book discussion on a “The elements of journalism: what newspeople should know and the public should expect” (Nouveaux Horizons, written by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel). The discussion brought together about 26 communication professionals to talk discuss the future of their profession. Opening …

The Embassy conference room was the venue for the Mandela Washington Fellowship pre-departure orientation that brought together four 2015 Fellows, three YALI alumni and the Embassy staff members. The 4-hour session started with DCM Eric Whitaker’s welcome remarks during which he congratulated the fellows on their selection for this prestigious program. He predicted that the …

The Chadian Alumni Association (AVITE/USA) seized the opportunity of World Press Freedom Day to hold a discussion on “The Role and Responsibility of the Press during the Election Process” at the Embassy.  Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Whitaker mentioned the importance of the day, paid tribute to killed or imprisoned journalists, and cited the various …

On April 8-9, a U.S. Congressional delegation including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware, Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, Representative Susan Davis of California, and Representative Kathleen Rice of New York is visiting Chad. The delegation is meeting with President of the Republic, Idriss Deby …

The Chargé opened the program which brought together 45 female participants including NGO leaders, civil servants, IVLP, YALI and SUSI alumni, 2015 YALI nominees and female university students.  Citing the many USG programs designed to inspire and prepare girls and women, he stressed the importance of nurturing leadership skills in them so that they may …

In an important symbol of our enduring friendship with the Republic of Chad, U.S. Ambassador to Chad James Knight broke ground on the new U.S. Embassy in N’Djamena today. The new Embassy will be situated on a 12-acre site in the Chagoua neighborhood southeast of downtown N’Djamena, and will include a chancery, a U.S. Marine …

Another community radio station was officially added to the Chadian media landscape with the January 25 inauguration of Radio Meguedem (name of a local pond) in the town of Bousso located 300 km south of N’Djamena on the east bank of the Chari River.  DCM Eric Whitaker, accompanied by USAID Country Program Manager Les McBride …

On January 21, Embassy N’Djamena hosted its first Town Hall of 2015, with a large turnout of more than 100 U.S. citizens and visitors.  Ambassador Knight greeted the guests and took questions on security, introduced recently arrived officers, and the director of the New Embassy Compound (NEC) under construction provided an overview of the project. …

The Special Anti-Terrorist Group (SATG) conducted a Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) in the village of Mini with Civil Military Support Element (CMSE) Chad focusing on respiratory illness, malaria, and malnutrition.  The SATG gained access to and built rapport with the local population and cooperatively maintained security with the Police and Gendarmerie. The SATG treated …

IVLP alumnus Armand Dobsoumouna Doumngoul (FY 15 AF/RP “Young African Leaders: Grassroots Democracy and Mid-term Elections in the U.S.”) gave a presentation on “Separation of Powers in the U.S.” and answered questions from the audience of 26 including IVLP and YALI alumni, journalists and human rights and youth association leaders over an hour at the …

Chad announced it will host the Flintlock 2015 exercise, U.S. Africa Command’s premier Special Operations Forces exercise, which will kick off Feb. 16, 2015 in the capital N’Djamena with outstations in Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Tunisia, and will run through March 9, 2015. The announcement was made Thursday by Brig. Gen. Zakaria Ngobongué, Exercise Director …

On November 24, Ambassador James Knight and PAO Julie Nickles donated books to the library of Centre Catholique Universitaire (CCU).  In celebration of International Education Week (IEW), the Ambassador presented 215 books to the Center’s library.  He highlighted the advantages of international education and exchange programs and also mentioned the U.S. Government’s commitment to support …

Educational  teaching aids and schools supplies valued at $4,250 were transferred to a secondary school in N’Djaména November 19 during a ceremony involving city officials, school administrators and their students, project staff from the USAID Peace through Development project (PDev II) and a representative from the U.S. Embassy.  The secondary school targeted by this donation …

Ambassador W. Stuart Symington, Special Representative for the Central African Republic (CAR), visited Chad on November 13.  He met with President Idriss Deby Itno and other senior officials of the Government of the Republic of Chad. He discussed Chadian assistance to Central African refugees and Chadian returnees, and asked the Chadian Government’s perspective on developments …

General David Rodriguez, Commander of the United States Africa Command, is visiting Chad from November 5-6, 2014.  During his visit, he met with President Idriss Deby Itno and Chadian senior military leaders to discuss future joint cooperation efforts and to witness first-hand the joint commitment and partnership that has developed between the two militaries as …

Visiting U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, David Gilmour, and U.S. Ambassador, James Knight, were received by Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno. The meeting focused on the peace and security in the sub-region. Talking to the journalists after the meeting, M. Gilmour thanked President Deby for his efforts to promote peace …

Twenty 20 Chadian English teaching professionals from the national teaching colleges, English language centers and secondary schools in N’Djamena, attended an English teaching webinar at the American Embassy on Wednesday, October 8, 2014.  After following the live transmission, the participants took time to discuss climate change and how to adapt the notions learned during the …

On October 1, 2014, Dr. James Knight, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Chad, and Mr. Bedoumra Kordje, Minister of Finance and Budget, officially launched a new website for the Ministry of Finance and Budget.  The website, financed by the U.S. Embassy in N’Djamena, is part of a partnership designed to promote and support fiscal …

25 students from the N’djamena English International School (NEIS) were invited to the American Embassy September 25 to discuss and debate essays they had written several months ago about sexualtrafficking of children, the treatment of rape victims, and/or the rights of girls to an education the same as boys.  Acting Public Affairs Officer David Andresen …

A dozen social entrepreneurs from Chadian volunteer organizations and communal associations participated in an American Embassy program on NGO Management, September 25.  At the workshop community activists and NGO leaders examined and discussed the essentials of setting up and operating an NGO in Chad, “NGO Management 101,” as it were. Most of the invitees are …

Terminal students from five of N’Djamena’s best lycees met with the US Embassy’s Education Advisor September 19 to discuss higher education in the United States and how to apply to American universities.  The students — selected by their principals to represent the schools —  were walked step-by-step through the typical application process, and the Embassy’s …

On September 19, 2014 at Stuttgart (Germany), the Signing of the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) took place between the Chadian and US government. The signing is historic as it solidifies Chadian and US commitment for mutual defense issues.  The previous one was only good for 10 years while this one is indefinite.  The …

American Ambassador James Knight met with community leaders and social engineers from four Chadian NGOs and communal associations on September 15 at the U.S. Embassy for an awards signing ceremony.  The four civic organizations — the Women of Abeche Union, the Women’s Association of Al Nadj in Moa, the Djounounan Group of Sanodjo, and the …

Under a hot mid-day sun in N’Djamena, members of the U.S. Embassy community — Americans and Chadians alike — joined Ambassador James Knight in observing a moment of silence to remember and reflect on the events of September 11, 2001.  Standing before an American flag at half-mast, the assembled group bowed their heads at 1:46PM …

17 English teachers from public and private secondary schools in N’Djamena participated in a webinar (a real time seminar available via the internet: web + seminar = webinar) at the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday, September 10.  “Teachers helping Teachers: Peer Observation for Professional development” was the first of six programs in the 14th edition of the “Shaping …

American Ambassador James Knight and eight Chadian community leaders met at the U.S. Embassy on September 9 for a signing ceremony at which their non-government organizations and civic groups received financial grants totaling nearly 42,500,000 CFA ($85,000).  These awards were granted to the recipients to help them organize regional conferences, conduct public service campaigns, and …

14 young professionals and high school students who traveled to the United States this summer were welcomed back home to Chad by Ambassador James Knight and other American diplomats at the U.S. embassy on Monday, September 8.  The travelers — who had participated in three separate exchange programs — had an opportunity to share their …

N’Djamena — American Ambassador James Knight presided over a signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy September 4 at which five Chadian non-government associations and groups received financial grants totaling nearly 25,000,000 CFA ($50,000).  The embassy grants will enable the recipients to purchase tools and materials needed to promote fish farming and increase sales in the …

Journalists and reporters from three Chadian media organizations gathered at the U.S. Embassy on September 3 to participate in an international telephonic press conference with Dr. Tom Kenyon, Director of the Center for Global Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior …

The U.S. Embassy’s acting Public Affairs Officer, David R. Andresen, visited the La Source bookstore in N’Djamena on Wednesday, August 27.  There he met with its director, M. Ngaryera Ngatara, and members of his staff to discuss their national sales and promotion of books in the Nouveaux Horizons (NH) collection.  La Source is Chad’s largest …

The Commanding General of AFRICOM’s Special Operations Command, U.S. Major General James Linder, visited Chad August 20 – 22 to meet with his Chadian counterparts and other officials to discuss military matters of bilateral and regional concern.  At the Ministry of Defense on August 21, he met with General Ndoubayo Marc, Deputy Chief of Staff.  …

Fifty youth from three districts in the Chadian capital completed two weeks of skills training in the manufacture of paving stones and were awarded completion certificates at an August 6 ceremony which involved municipal authorities, personnel from the USAID project that funded the training, and the USAID Country Program Manager.  The purpose of the project …

Ambassador and Dr. Knight welcomed N’Djamena’s Grand Imam and 50 key contacts to the Embassy’s Iftar at the CMR on July 18. Guests included members of the interfaith community, IVLPs, civil society, education, government, youth, media, and artists. Guests, including the Grand Imam’s remarks, noted the warm feeling of being welcomed into the U.S. Ambassador’s …

On July 4th, Ambassador James Knight and Dr. Amelia Rector Bell Knight hosted hundreds of  Americans, Chadians and members of N’Djamena’s  international community in a celebration of  America’s 238th “Birthday.”  Guests enjoyed a return engagement of the U.S. Air Force band “Wings of Dixie” who filled the air with traditional Dixieland jazz.   Ambassador Knight’s remarks to …

A three-day workshop was recently held in N’Djamena to train 24 Koranic school teachers from Chad in interactive teaching methods.  Instruction was provided by an American non-governmental organization, Salam Institute, with funding from the USAID Peace through Development (PDev II) project.  The American instructor and Vice-President of Salam Institute, Dr. Amr Abdalla, was assisted by …

Continuing a long tradition of U.S. Ambassadors in Chad, Ambassador Knight visited Grand Imam Hisssein Hassan Abakar to convey wishes from the American people for a happy and blessed Ramadan for all Chadian Muslims. The Ambassador presented a gift of dates to the Grand Imam.

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus made a visit to Chad on June 12-13, 2014, where he met top Chadian officials.  Secretary Mabus’ visit underscores the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as military cooperation. Mabus’ visit to Chad represents a continuation of the Department of the Navy’s focus on …

Embassy N’Djamena successfully hosted it first American Town Hall of 2014 on May 29, with a rousing turnout of more than 100 American citizens and visitors.  Ambassador Knight greeted the guests and answered their many questions, and Embassy officers explained their roles in the Mission. In between refreshments and an opportunity for the American community …

The USAID regional Peace through Development (PDev II) project conducted a Peace and Tolerance Awareness Campaign April 25-26 at the Gaoui Transit Center on the outskirts of N’Djamena where 5,000 Chadian returnees are being temporarily resettled after having fled violence in Central African Republic.  Initiated by the administrative authorities from three N’Djamena districts near the …

Ambassador James Knight accompanied Chad’s Health Ministry and Red Cross officials to an island in Lake Chad to help draw attention to the April 23 launching of African Vaccination Week.  The ceremony marking this event was held in Kinasserom, a fishing village where Chadians mix with populations from neighboring Cameroon and Nigeria.  Local administrative and …

U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Anne C. Richard visited Chad from April 1 – 7. In N’Djamena, she met with Chadian government officials and representatives of both international and non-governmental organizations, as well as participating in an inter-ministerial committee meeting on refugees and returnees. The purpose of her …

On March 19-20, a U.S. Congressional delegation including Congressman Rob Wittman of Virginia, Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo of Guam, and Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio visited Chad.  The delegation met with President Idriss Déby Itno, as well as other senior officials of the Government of the Republic of Chad in N’Djamena, and also visited the …

Ambassador James Knight visited a Chadian returnee transit site in N’Djamena today to see first-hand the plight of those fleeing the violence in Central African Republic (CAR).  Since December 21, 2013, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has registered almost 40,000 Chadian returnees.  Ambassador Knight was given a briefing by Chadian government officials and IOM …

Interfaith dialogue was the focus of a five-day workshop held in N’Djamena January 19-23.  The event was organized by Salam Institute, a U.S. non-governmental organization, within the context of the USAID Peace through Development II project. Approximately 25 participants who are members of the clergy from Muslim, Catholic and Protestant communities in six regions of …

On the commemoration of Prophet Mohammed’s birthday (Almawlid), Chargé d’Affaires Eric Whitaker paid a courtesy call to the President of the High Council for Islamic Affairs sheik Hissein Hassan Abakar. The visit which is not the first of kind was part of the mission’s continued effort to strengthen the friendly relationship between the U.S. Embassy …

On December 5 and 6, 2013, the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section in collaboration with the Don Bosco Center and the American Corner organized a series of film screening on HIV/AID in commemoration of World AIDS Day. The events attracted a large number of young students from high schools and universities.  The film shows sparked …

During his visit to Chad from November 20-21, 2013, General David M. Rodriguez, Commander of United States Africa Command, met with President Deby Itno and Chadian senior military leaders regarding future joint cooperation efforts, and to witness first-hand the joint commitment and partnership that has developed between the two militaries as they move forward together …

Nicole Gotthelf, Director of Institutional Advancement at the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), visited N’Djamena from October 27 – 31 on the invitation of the U.S. Embassy, to facilitate a workshop on NGO Management for 32 local NGO and associations leaders.  Nicole’s program started with a talk on NGO management at the American Corner …

Ambassador James Knight traveled to the town of Sarh in southern Chad September 14-15 to participate in an opening and closing ceremony for two Embassy-funded training programs that were held at the Mabrouka Islamic Center located in the nearby village of Manda.  The Ambassador, who was accompanied on this visit by the USAID Country Program …

Ambassador James Knight welcomed  more than 100 American citizens residing in Chad to his home on Thursday, September 5, 2013.  Embassy staff spoke on topics including American Citizen Services, security and the bilateral relationship.  The Ambassador places paramount importance on engaging with the American community and was extremely pleased to meet so many Americans so …

Ambassador James Knight hosted a signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy for two letters of agreement from the African Development Foundation (ADF), a public corporation of the U.S. government that awards economic development grants to marginalized and underserved populations in Africa.  The recipients are the Djamadji Group from the West Logone region in Moundou, which …

On the 50th anniversary of The March on Washington, which featured Martin Luther King Jr.’s world-renowned “I Have Dream” speech, A/DCM Susan Zelle spoke with 35 young Chadians about the history of the struggle for civil rights in the United States. The program at the U.S. Embassy’s American Corner at Centre al-Mouna included a documentary about …