In Chad, the desert is no longer just a stretch of sand; it has become a land of promise and peril. Increasing numbers of young people, from both rural and urban areas, are abandoning everything to try their luck in artisanal gold mining . While the hope of striking it rich may guide their steps, the reality on the ground is often far bleaker.

The illusion of easy money in the face of a lack of opportunities

Whether they are unemployed graduates or rural people with no prospects, these young people are driven towards gold mining areas by a cocktail of social and economic factors:

1. Endemic unemployment and increasing job insecurity.
2. Social pressure : the success of a few "pioneers" who returned to the village with money fuels all sorts of fantasies.
3. The lack of viable local alternatives .

“My brother had left the village for the city before deciding to join his friends at the Algerian border. Since then, we have had no news,” says Adoum, his gaze vacant.

A journey to the depths of insecurity

Heading into the desert means accepting the risk of navigating lawless areas. The risks are numerous:

1. Armed insecurity : Malicious groups and bandits regularly rob gold miners of their meager savings.
2. Health hazards : Extreme living conditions and lack of care turn even the slightest illness into a death sentence.
3. Exploitation : The vulnerability of newcomers makes them ideal targets for scams and forced labor.

A heavy impact on the nation

This "draining" of youth towards the mines is not without consequences for the country's stability:

1. Depopulation of villages : There is now a shortage of hands for agricultural work.
2. Education in peril : Many young people are abandoning school for the pickaxe.
3. Underground economy : This activity largely escapes state control, depriving the country of tax revenue and fostering crime.

Towards sustainable solutions

Faced with this cry of distress from a generation, repression alone is not enough. To curb this exodus to the desert, two levers seem essential:

1. Awareness-raising : Truly informing young people about the deadly dangers of gold panning.
2. Supporting the land : Revitalizing the agriculture and livestock sectors to offer young people a possible success at home, far from the mirages of the desert.