N’Djamena, 16 June — In the face of mounting climate and economic pressures, the Government of Chad has received a substantial lifeline from the People’s Republic of China. A donation of 1,770 tonnes of rice was officially handed over today at the Radisson Blu hotel, in a ceremony presided over by Minister of Social Action Zara Mahamat Issa.
More than aid: a bond of solidarity and mutual respect
Speaking at the event, Minister Zara Mahamat Issa framed the donation not just as food assistance but as a testament to the enduring friendship between Chad and China. She invoked the Chinese proverb, ‘In times of hardship, a single grain of rice is worth its weight in gold,’ underscoring how critical this shipment is for families displaced by conflict, refugees, and households struggling with food insecurity.
Ahmat Mahamat Kosseï, Director-General of Chad’s National Food Security Office (ONASA), welcomed the rice consignment as timely relief for vulnerable communities. Under the leadership of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, ONASA is tasked with ensuring transparent and equitable distribution of the rice, building on a long history of Chinese support. Since 2014, ONASA has received multiple rice donations—5,000 tonnes in 2014 and 2017, 5,966 tonnes in 2019, and smaller but consistent shipments in 2022 and 2025—alongside wheat and rice aid.
Building long-term resilience, not just short-term relief
China’s Ambassador to Chad, Wang Xining, highlighted that while immediate food aid is vital, the broader goal is to strengthen Chad’s own capacity to feed itself. He noted that Beijing has contributed an average of nearly two billion CFA francs annually in cereals, while also funding technical agricultural missions to introduce high-yield varieties and modern farming methods. These efforts aim to turn Chad’s natural advantages—abundant water, abundant sunlight, fertile soils, and a hardworking population—into sustainable agricultural growth.
The Ambassador also pointed to broader economic cooperation, including China’s recent announcement of zero tariffs on goods from African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. This year’s rice donation coincides with strengthened alignment between China’s development plans and Chad’s national priorities, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral cooperation.
The handover concluded with a visit to the Chagoua FDAR warehouse in the 7th arrondissement of N’Djamena, where the rice shipment will be stored and prepared for distribution.