By Kawther Abuelgasim Obeid Sharfi
What if the world’s camel capital isn’t where you think?
When people think of camels, they often picture the Gulf or the Sahara’s tourist trails. But the country with the largest camel herd on Earth is Chad. That is more than 11 million animals: an economy in its own.
Camel milk is a staple in pastoral diets and is increasingly valued for its nutrition and shelf life in hot climates. Demand for camel meat is rising across the Sahel and beyond, with Chad’s production surging in the 1990s as herds grew. Camels carry people and goods across long distances where water and grass are scarce, which anchors cross-border commerce. Hides, skins and wool feed local crafts and have export potential, though processing remains underdeveloped.
Ahead of the usual suspects
Chad sits ahead of countries more commonly associated with camels — including Somalia, Sudan and Kenya — in total herd size.
Yet much of the value still leaves with live animals, rather than being created locally. The country mainly exports live animals, while processing and value addition —especially for milk and meat — remain limited.
For Chadian herders, these animals are not statistics. They represent pride and resilience.
Camel farming systems in eastern Chad, such as in Wadi Fira, show how central the animal is to household survival, social status and risk management in harsh environment.
What comes next
The potential is massive: processed camel milk, packaged meat, certified leather and wool products.
Better collection, cooling and packaging could turn informal milk sales into branded dairy products for N’Djamena and regional markets. Improving hide quality, tanning and design could unlock higher-value goods for domestic use and export.
So next time you see a camel, look beyond the hump. You may be looking at one of Chad’s greatest untold national treasures — and a quiet engine for jobs and food security in some of the country’s toughest landscapes.
