Cameroon and Chad Formalize Defense Pact to Bolster Border Security

Historic Agreement Signed in Yaoundé

Yaoundé, Cameroon – Cameroon and Chad have officially cemented a new military cooperation agreement, designed to significantly bolster security measures along their extensive shared border. The landmark deal was signed on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, and subsequently announced by Cameroon's Ministry of Defense on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

The agreement was formalized by Cameroonian Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and his Chadian counterpart, Issaka Maloua Djamous. This pact is a direct response to escalating security challenges in the region and aims to provide a robust legal framework for ongoing and future defense collaboration between the two nations.

Key Pillars of Cooperation

The newly signed agreement outlines several critical areas of cooperation intended to enhance the collective security of both countries. According to statements from Cameroon's Ministry of Defense, the deal will:

• Enhance joint ground operations between their respective armed forces.
• Facilitate the more efficient and timely sharing of strategic security information.

These provisions are designed to create a more coordinated and effective response to the multifaceted threats plaguing the border region.

Addressing Persistent Border Threats

The cooperation agreement comes as both Cameroon and Chad confront a range of growing security challenges along their 1,094-kilometer shared frontier. These threats include the persistent menace of Boko Haram terrorism, which has destabilized parts of the Lake Chad Basin for years. Additionally, the porous nature of the border has facilitated illicit cross-border trafficking, armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and cattle theft, further exacerbating instability and impacting civilian populations.

The region has been described as a 'powder keg of crime' due to weak law enforcement capacity and the activities of various insurgent groups. This agreement formalizes and strengthens existing defense collaboration, which has previously included joint operations such as Lagoon 1 and Lagoon 2, demonstrating a long-standing need for such a comprehensive framework.

Official Statements and Regional Context

Cameroonian Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, 'Our defense forces are now formally linked to the Chadian armies by a legal instrument that will frame our partnership, which will undoubtedly develop and strengthen further.' He further added that the agreement 'illustrates the shared will of our two countries to face together the challenges of peace, security, development and stability.'

The pact is reportedly driven by the commitment of Cameroonian President Paul Biya and Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to enhance regional stability. This move reflects a broader regional effort to improve coordination and intelligence-sharing in the face of complex security dynamics impacting Central Africa.