After a sharp recession in 2016, activity is expected to recover slowly in 2017. Admittedly, oil exploitation will remain dominant (one fifth of GDP) and face persistent difficulties associated with oil price weakness.  Nonetheless, a moderate price increase and the exploitation of new oilfields in the south of the country, especially the one in Bongor, will help give activity a leg up. Meanwhile, growth is likely to be driven by the non-oil sector. Trade and transport (22% of GDP), still hampered by the worsening security conditions in the country and on its borders, will pick up. The agricultural sector (12% of GDP) is expected to drive growth, given the government's desire to support cotton production as a way of diversifying the economy, despite low world prices. With its five-year development plan (2016-2020), the government is demonstrating its resolve to rebalance the economy by taking full account of the country's agricultural potential. This plan also includes components designed to improve human capital, governance and social protection. However, public investment projects will continue to be constrained by weak government resources. Finally the rising commodity prices and the disruption of trade with neighboring countries (Cameroon and Nigeria) in connection with the difficult security context will push up inflation.

The public deficit is expected to decrease in 2017. The end to 2016 election spending will relieve the burden on the public accounts. Oil tax revenues will increase thanks to revenues from the exploitation of the new oilfields, but will still not be enough to finance the economy. Fiscal assistance from the various financial donors will, moreover, continue to be a significant income item. Specifically, in November 2016, the IMF scheduled the transfer of USD 61 million under the ECF program due to end in November 2017. The budget restructuring will thus also be carried by spending cuts. The increase in the issuance of securities on the regional market and payment arrears due to the contraction in oil revenues explain the rise in the debt in the past few years. On the other hand, Chad reached completion point under the HIPC initiative in April 2015. However, the debt cancellation related to a relatively reasonable amount of debt. Given the depreciation of the CFA franc in 2015, the HIPC initiative had only a limited impact on the debt ratios. The current account deficit is expected to decline in 2017, but will remain high. On the one hand, the trade surplus will increase on account of the increase in exports, primarily of oil, and the relative stability in the past of the currency against the US dollar (key trading partner). The central bank's foreign exchange reserves will remain stable, at a worrying level of less than one month of imports.

The parliamentary elections, initially planned for June 2015, were finally postponed to a later date. The presidential elections were held in April 2016 in a tense atmosphere. Idriss Déby, president since 1991, was re-elected with almost 60% of the votes cast for a fifth five-year term. The results of this poll, together with the unstable economic, social and security climate of recent years, are starting to trigger tensions between the opposition and the government. The main risks come from the armed conflict with the terrorist Boko Haram sect. Established mainly in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad area, Boko Haram has conducted a growing number of suicide attacks in this region since 2015. As a result, a state of emergency was declared in November 2015 in the Lake Chad region and then extended for 6 months in April 2016. In order to eradicate its influence in the region, the military cooperation between the four countries bordering the Lake Chad region (Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) and France remains strong. Chad is very active in fighting this terrorist group, specifically through numerous offensives during 2016. In addition, the security problems derive also from the increase in poverty associated with the loss of 90% of Lake Chad's water area in a few decades, pushing some young people to join Boko Haram. Lake Chad is a key region for the agricultural sector with fishing and the environment providing a livelihood for over 50 million people. To prevent the lake from drying out completely, an infrastructure plan is being discussed and some countries have increased their bilateral commitments, in particular France, which has committed to tripling its financial aid by 2020. Governance remains worrying to the extent that Chad is among the countries with the most difficult business climate (183rd out of 190 countries in the World Bank's latest Doing Business Index). Corruption in Chad is also endemic.