Chadian women battle discrimination, violence to claim land rights

After divorcing her abusive husband, 28-year-old Milla Nemoudji from southern Chad found herself struggling to survive in a society where men traditionally control access to land.

Raised in a farming family, she faced challenges in achieving economic independence, particularly as divorce is uncommon in Chad.

She initially supported herself by selling fruits and working as a laborer during the rainy season. Last year, however, a women’s collective came to her village, providing her with access to land and a voice in its management.

With this new opportunity, she was able to farm cotton, peanuts, and sesame, earning enough to meet her basic needs.

In the village of Binmar, near Chad’s second-largest city Moundou, women typically work the land but have little control over it. Access to land in Chad is often controlled by village chiefs who demand annual payments.

Women are largely excluded from land ownership and inheritance, making them reliant on male relatives, reinforcing their lower social status.

This challenge is worsened by a dual legal system where customary law often takes precedence over statutory law, especially in rural areas.

Despite recent reforms recognizing land ownership rights for all citizens, enforcement remains inconsistent.

For women like Nemoudji striving for their rights, the response can be hostile.

“There’s no one to come to your aid, although everyone knows that you are suffering,” Nemoudji told The Associated Press, criticising the traditional land rights system and calling on local leaders to address domestic violence.

“If women weren’t losing access to farmlands, they would dare to leave their husbands earlier,”She added.

Initiatives like N-Bio Solutions, which Nemoudji joined, are challenging traditional land norms.

Founded in 2018 by Adèle Noudjilembaye, an agriculturist and activist from a neighbouring village, the collective works to secure land for women by negotiating with traditional chiefs and finding landholders willing to lease their land.

Noudjilembaye currently runs five such collectives, each with around 25 members. Although gaining traction, these initiatives face limitations due to financial constraints and some women’s reluctance to risk their limited resources. Noudjilembaye noted,

“Despite the violence and neglect, many women stay (in that situation) because of financial dependency, fear of societal judgment, or lack of support.”

Collectives like N-Bio Solutions are not only advancing gender equality but also promoting sustainable agriculture in Chad.

In Binmar, women have embraced practices such as crop rotation, organic farming, and using drought-resistant seeds, which enhance soil health and productivity.

The U.N. notes that women with land access are more likely to adopt sustainable agricultural methods and strengthen local food systems.

However, women asserting their rights in Chad face significant obstacles. The country is ranked 144th out of 146 in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Indicator Report by the World Economic Forum.

Chad’s maternal mortality rate stands at 1,063 deaths per 100,000 births, over three times the global average, and only 20% of young women are literate, according to the U.N.

Nemoudji’s family offered her emotional support and shelter but did little to challenge her abuser or seek justice.

“The system failed me when I sought help after my husband burned down my house,” she said. Despite reporting the incident to the village chief, “nothing was done to solve my dispute.”

Marie Djetoyom, the village chief, expressed fear of retaliation and stated she must operate within customary land laws.

However, despite limited support from traditional leaders and authorities, women in the village of around 120 have found solidarity and strength through the collective.

Innocent Bename, a researcher at CEREAD in N’Djamena, stated, “Since cultural practices often prevent individual women from accessing land, community-based solutions are the most viable way to achieve this goal.”

Marie Depaque, a local woman who faced financial hardship when her second husband refused to support her children from a previous marriage, emphasized that “our struggle for land rights is not just about economic survival but also about justice, equality, and the hope for a better future”.

Nemoudji hopes for improved educational opportunities for the children in her community to help them escape poverty and violence.

She is actively advocating for changes to the land ownership system. “Knowing my rights means I can seek help from authorities and demand justice,” she said.

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