Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each secto is sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and, reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 5/15/2019

Since the launch of a fiber-optic cable in 2012 linking N’Djamena to international connections through Cameroon, Internet service in Chad has been increasingly reliable although it remains extremely expensive.  Low bandwidth and slow speeds hamper Internet entrepreneurs and shoppers. Thus, to date E-commerce has not been a practical means of conducting business.   The Government restricted access to internet since the presidential election in 2016 and the civil servant protests of 2017 and 2018. The use of Virtual Personal Networks (VPN) increases the cost of internet. 

Current Market Trends

Due to low penetration rates, there is very little eCommerce in Chad.  The Government of Chad has been working to improve fiber-optic connectivity via Cameroon and Sudan, and continues efforts to create a “trans-Saharan backbone” connecting Chad to a fiber optic cable via Algeria.  The government passed the following laws affecting cyber security and online transactions in 2015:

Law No. 07 / PR / 2015 of 10 February 2015 on the protection of personal data
Law No. 08 / PR / 2015 of 10 February 2015 concerning electronic transactions
Act No. 09 / PR / 2015 of 10 February 2015, on cyber security and cybercrime.

Domestic eCommerce (B2C)

The country’s only online marketplace, MossoSouk, was launched in 2016 and offers car rentals and small items for purchase. The service is currently limited to Ndjamena.

Cross-Border eCommerce

There is currently no cross-border eCommerce in Chad.

B2B eCommerce

There is currently no B2B eCommerce in Chad.

eCommerce Services

There are currently no eCommerce services available in Chad. Some restaurants offer delivery services in some areas of N’Djamena.
eCommerce Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property rights with respect to eCommerce have not yet been codified.

Popular eCommerce Sites

Chad’s popular eCommerce portals are: http://mossosouk.com/ , https://www.daarishop.com/ ;

Online Payment

Online payment is not yet available in Chad.

Mobile eCommerce

Tigo Cash and Airtel Money allow consumers to pay their electric bills, pay for purchases at shops and make transactions (money transfers) using mobile telephony.

Digital Marketing

Some digital advertising and marketing are done through social media sites.

Major Buying Holidays

There are no major buying holidays in Chad.

Social Media

Social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp are popular in Chad, though the vast majority of Chadians (well over 90 percent) access social media through mobile phones. Social media was blocked by the government during since 2018 and users must use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access most websites, with internet penetration rate at just 18 percent.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.