Chadian media organizations demand unpaid press subsidies

Major professional media organizations in Chad have issued a joint demand to the government regarding significant delays in the payment of the Press Aid fund. The Union des Radios Privées du Tchad (URPT), the Patronat de la Presse Tchadienne (PPT), the Association des Médias en Ligne du Tchad (AMET), and the Association des Éditeurs de la Presse Privée du Tchad (AEPT) met in N’Djaména to address the worsening economic situation of private media outlets.

The organizations report that payments are currently two years in arrears, in addition to unpaid amounts from previous years. They emphasize that these subsidies are a legal requirement under Law No. 29/PR/94 and Decree No. 414/MR/MC/99, rather than discretionary government favors. The groups argue that the financial instability and precarious working conditions threaten the ability of private media to fulfill their role in public information and democratic participation.

The organizations have proposed five major demands, including the immediate and regular disbursement of subsidies, the strengthening of support mechanisms for private media, improved working conditions for journalists, the establishment of a permanent dialogue between the state and media professionals, and measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of media enterprises in Chad.