Tinubu Welcomes Chad President Déby in Abuja Meeting

On April 2, 2026, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu hosted Chad President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, marking Déby's first official visit to Nigeria since assuming office on May 23, 2024. The meeting occurred just a week after Tinubu hosted another foreign leader, emphasizing the importance of international relations.

Discussions between the two leaders reportedly focused on regional security, particularly the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin, which includes Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. This area has been a hotspot for insurgent activities, including those by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The meeting also comes amid a shift in alliances in the Sahel region following Chad's withdrawal from a French military agreement in November 2024. Tinubu previously attended Déby's inauguration in May 2024 and has been involved in mediating regional crises, including the situation in Niger following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in January 2026.