Chad: football promotes peace in Djoli canton
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In the Djoli canton of Balimba sub-prefecture, Chad, the Consortium for the Promotion of Development Initiatives (COPIDEV) organised a football match to bring communities together and strengthen social bonds.
The match took place as part of the “Support for Social Cohesion and Peaceful Coexistence in the South of the country” project, known as LAPIA.
COPIDEV, working with the NGO COGINTA and funded by the European Union, used the event on October 12, 2026, to promote values of peace, tolerance, and social cohesion. The football game between local teams Barça de Djoli and Real Madrid de Djoli served as more than just a sporting event. Organisers intended the match to ease tensions and encourage dialogue between different communities within the canton.
Nguetoungar Michel, the canton secretary of Djoli, presided over the opening ceremony, which also drew traditional chiefs, village leaders, and forestry agents. Mahamat Ngossi, the project leader, emphasised that the game’s main goal was to create a space for exchange and strengthen relationships through sport, not simply to compete. Following a closely contested match, Barça de Djoli won 3-2. Players from both teams received medals and their clubs received financial support.
Residents welcomed the initiative as a boost to preserving peace in the canton, particularly in villages and encampments where solidarity is important.
