The Chad – Cameroon Oil and Pipeline project: 10 th anniversary of oil exports from Chad Are there lesson learned for the world bank’s planned “smart” risk strategy? Washington, October Me. DELPHINE KEMNELOUM DJIRAIBE Public Interest Law Center - Chad

The WB financed the Chad Cameroon project claiming that it would be the country’s only chance to reduce poverty. But after ten years where are we? “ Ten years of oil exploitation, ten years of bitter tears and blood. Where there is oil peace is running away”. This summarizes the situation for people in Chad

Current situation in Chad Poverty has grown: On UNDP’s Human Development Index, Chad has further fallen and is now ranked on position184 out of 186 countries in the world. Poverty has grown: On UNDP’s Human Development Index, Chad has further fallen and is now ranked on position184 out of 186 countries in the world. More than 80% of the population do not have access to clean water and more than 90% do not have access to electricity More than 80% of the population do not have access to clean water and more than 90% do not have access to electricity The education system has further deteriorated; The education system has further deteriorated; Oil money nourishes corruption circuits and armed conflicts over access to power. Oil money nourishes corruption circuits and armed conflicts over access to power. Chad’s oil wealth has deepened the gap between rich and poor and exacerbated armed conflicts “who controls power, controls the oil money.” Chad’s oil wealth has deepened the gap between rich and poor and exacerbated armed conflicts “who controls power, controls the oil money.”

Some examples Doba, the main city in the oil region, is the poorest town in Chad. Doba, the main city in the oil region, is the poorest town in Chad. There are only open sewers, no sanitation, and people live surrounded by waste. Some infrastructures such as classrooms, so called modern markets, stadiums, administrative buildings, hospitals are built along the roads for the sake of visibility and do not take into consideration the priorities of local people. They have no positive impact on the living conditions of the population. The promised regional development plan for the oil region was never adopted.

Examples continued Secondly these infrastructures are of bad quality and cannot resist bad weather. Buildings were cracked in the first year and flooded during the rainy seasons. The only hospital built at the edge of the road in Doba is still not operational after 10 years of oil exploitation.  People have lost their means of production which is their land: “Exxon has killed me, they took my land, they give me a little money, but now I find myself with nothing, I cannot feed my family anymore.” said a woman from a village near the oil region.

Examples continued One reason this is happening is that the government has changed the law on the management of oil revenues to use oil money to buy arms. In 2007, military and security spending totaled billion FCFA compared to billion FCFA for the 4 priority areas combined (education, health, agriculture and livestock). In 2007, military and security spending totaled billion FCFA compared to billion FCFA for the 4 priority areas combined (education, health, agriculture and livestock). Military spending of the Chadian State increased from billions FCFA in 2004 to billions in 2008, corresponding to an increase of billions FCFA within four years. Military spending of the Chadian State increased from billions FCFA in 2004 to billions in 2008, corresponding to an increase of billions FCFA within four years.

CONCLUSION The World Bank shares much of the responsibility for the suffering inflicted on Chad’s people. The World Bank should use its power to help address the many problems that the project has created. The World Bank should also draw lesson from this project and include a human rights approach in all its lending and non lending activities. The World Bank shares much of the responsibility for the suffering inflicted on Chad’s people. The World Bank should use its power to help address the many problems that the project has created. The World Bank should also draw lesson from this project and include a human rights approach in all its lending and non lending activities. Thank You for your kind attention.