The government of Chad has decided to nationalize all the assets of the American oil and gas company Exxon Mobile located in the country. The decision to nationalize the assets of the American company
was made by the interim President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby.
The nationalization of a private company means that all assets are now owned by the government. While this used to happen in the 1960s and 1970s, it hasn’t happened recently and doesn’t conform to usual legal frameworks in the sector, say energy experts.
Chad began producing oil in 2003 and Exxon has been operating in the country for several decades. It was running the Doba oil project in Chad.
The move could scare away investors from West Africa at a time of growing global energy demand and a decline in foreign investments in the region, said Olufola Wusu, a partner and head of the oil and gas desk at Megathos Law Practice based in Nigeria.
“Expropriation of any sort without compensation is not a step in the right direction, because it is going to erode investor confidence in that particular country and once investors are jittery, they pull back their investment, so regulators and leaders in Africa need to play by the rules,” he said.
The government’s decision came after a long dispute between Exxon and Chad, which rejected the sale of the company’s operations last year.
Tensions have risen in the West African nation in recent months with unprecedented protests mounting against the government of President Mahamat Idriss Deby.
Deby was declared the head of state after his father’s death in April 2021. The son’s succession did not follow Chad’s constitutional line of succession. Opposition political parties at the time called the handover a coup d’etat, but later agreed to accept Deby as interim leader for 18 months.
Chad is about to learn the reality of America: Capital (money) follows return. The Flag follows the money. Troops follow the flag.
The new young "president" of Chad should prepare for 500 and 1000lb democracy installments. I advise the interim President that air travel is not recommended. American special forces are in at least 9 African countries.
