N’Djamena, Republic of Chad, 23 February 2026 – As part of his official visit to the Republic of Chad, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General briefed the President on the objectives of his mission to N’Djamena and provided an update on the state of implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, including ongoing efforts to support State Parties in translating the Agreement into concrete national outcomes.

The visit forms part of H.E. Mene’s continued engagement with the Republic of Chad and is aimed at engaging key national stakeholders, including the AfCFTA National Implementation Committee, the private sector, women entrepreneurs, and young business leaders, on the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA. The programme included a forum jointly organised by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, focused on strengthening awareness, preparedness, and participation in continental trade.

H.E. Mene commended the important role played by the Republic of Chad during the AfCFTA negotiations and reiterated the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the country’s regional integration efforts. He underscored the importance of leveraging key AfCFTA instruments, including the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade and the Digital Trade Protocol, to promote inclusive and future-oriented trade participation.