E-commerce in Chad

E-commerce

E-commerce market

E-commerce is almost non-existent in Chad as low bandwidth and low internet penetration rate hamper internet entrepreneurs and shoppers. The government is trying to improve the situation by working on a fiber-optic connectivity via Cameroon, Algeria and Sudan, and in 2015 it approved several laws to regulate cyber security and online transactions.
Only 3% of people aged 15 or more have credit cards and 15% have mobile money accounts (World Bank Financial Inclusion data). A mere 2.5% purchases online. Online payment is not yet available in Chad. However, through Tigo Cash and Airtel Money services, consumers can pay their electric bills, purchases at shops and transfer money using mobile phones.
The country has only one online marketplace, MossoSouk, which was launched in 2016. The platforms offers car rental services and small items for purchase, and is currently limited to the capital N’Djamena. Another platform - DaariShop - has been recently launched, offering food products, medicaments and construction materials. At the moment, there is no B2B or cross-border e-commerce in Chad.
Some digital advertising and marketing are done through social media sites (though users require a VPN to connect to social media platforms).