Chad, Africa’s fifth-largest nation suffers from inadequate infrastructure and internal conflict. Poverty is rife, and health and social conditions compare unfavourably with those elsewhere in the region.
Chad’s post-independence history (from 1960) has been marked by instability and violence stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south.
MAF began operating in Chad in 1966 but had to close operations in 1979 due to fierce fighting and civil war. In 1981, MAF reopened operations and has been flying there since, working in close partnership with the local church to support mission and church work.
MAF’s operating permission is part of the permit granted by the government to the Entente des Eglises et Missions Evangéliques au Tchad (EEMET) – the evangelical Church of Chad - and allows MAF to serve all church groups and non-government organisations.
Vast distances and no paved road system make overland travel time-consuming and potentially hazardous.
In April 2006, rebel forces advanced on the capital in an attempted coup to overthrow President Deby. With continuous shellfire and gunfire around the city, MAF evacuated personnel from other mission organisations along with MAF wives and children to neighbouring Cameroon. As the situation calmed, staff returned but following further unrest in December, MAF families prepared to move temporarily out of Chad. From January 2007, MAF operated with a skeleton staff of pilots and engineers to cover the flying until staff could safely return later in 2007.
In January 2008, rebels again advanced on the capital. MAF evacuated to Cameroon. As fighting continued in N’Djaména, staff returned to their home countries.
In March 2008, the Country Director and one of the pilots returned to Chad for a week to assess the situation and determine if and how MAF could resume operations.
In May 2008, MAF operations resumed.
Organisations regularly served by MAF:
• Africa Inland Mission (AIM)
• AirServ
• Baptist Mid-Missions (BMM)
• Bethanie (orphanage in N’Djaména)
• Cooperative Services International (CSI)
• Eglise catholique (Catholic Church)
• Golden Hills Church
• Grace Brethren International Ministries (known as MEF in Chad)
• Lutheran Brethren
• Red Cross
• Tchad pour Christ (Chad for Christ)
• TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission)
• Unicef
• Wycliffe Bible Translators
The Chad operation also flies into the Central African Republic