Chad takes flight: inaugural drone café explores UAV opportunities

Tech Africa, Tchad FlyingLabs, WeRobotics, and the National Centre for Research and Development (CNRD) collaborated to host the inaugural Drone Café. This landmark event, held on June 25, 2026, at the CNRD premises in N’Djamena, centered on the compelling theme: «Opportunities linked to civil drones».

The initiative aimed to spotlight the crucial role and widespread potential of drones across various sectors. Key areas of focus included enhancing agricultural practices, improving livestock management, and optimizing the oversight of Chad’s extensive natural parks and reserves.

Professor Mahamoud Youssouf Khayal, Director General of the CNRD, underscored the historic nature of the gathering. For the first time, he noted, national and international stakeholders in unmanned aerial technologies convened in N’Djamena, within an institution dedicated to research and development. He emphasized that drones are no longer a futuristic concept but a vital contemporary tool. «In Chad, our vast territory, significant logistical hurdles, pressing needs for geospatial data, and the demand for rapid crisis response make drones an exceptionally relevant solution,» Professor Khayal asserted.

To fully harness the benefits of this technology for Chad, Professor Khayal highlighted several critical issues that must be addressed:

• Regulatory Framework: How can drone usage be secured while simultaneously fostering innovation?
• Training: How can young people be equipped with the skills needed for future careers in this field?
• Integration: How can institutions, private operators, and researchers effectively collaborate and communicate?

The CNRD Director General extended his gratitude to the partnering organizations—Drone Tech Africa, Tchad FlyingLabs, and WeRobotics—for their initiative and dedication. He also acknowledged the presence of experts who have already translated these advanced technologies into practical, operational solutions. He urged participants to seize this unique opportunity to learn, forge partnerships, and lay the groundwork for a national roadmap. «Research is not a distant endeavor. It is right here, at the core of our daily concerns. And drones perfectly illustrate this,» he concluded.

He also thanked the CNRD teams for their unwavering commitment to organizing the event and the technical and financial partners who supported the project.

Mahamat Issa Abakar, Director of Drone Tech Africa, showcased research achievements from Burkina Faso through a presentation. He also detailed agricultural research conducted in Chad’s Guéra province, specifically in Mongo, Baro, and Tabo, where a women’s agricultural project was documented by drone. This filming aimed to understand their farming methods in the face of resilience challenges, with the ultimate goal of boosting agricultural yields by 30% through drone integration.

Ali Mahamoud, a CNRD department head, elaborated on the application of AI in research, particularly emphasizing the utility of drones in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders. These conflicts are often exacerbated by drought, water scarcity, and climate change. He further highlighted the critical role of drones in wildlife surveillance within Zakouma National Park, monitoring transhumance corridors, conducting mineral prospecting, and searching for gold, underscoring their importance for obtaining precise statistical data.

The third speaker, Dr. Djimassal, a research officer, provided insights into using satellites to capture images from space. These images enable detailed visualization of vegetation, rivers, light forests, settlements, shrubby and herbaceous savannas, grazing areas, and thickets, particularly in the northern regions. He meticulously explained the interpretation of images depicting various resources, lakes, and natural forests.

Following these insightful research presentations, a panel discussion was convened, fostering an exchange of ideas on the profound importance of drone applications across diverse sectors.