By Djinodji SOLMENGAR Rodrigue
The United States Embassy in N’Djamena opened its doors on Wednesday evening to mark the 250 years of American independence. Americans, Chadians and diplomats gathered for the occasion, dubbed Freedom 250, in a ceremony that blended celebration, culture and diplomacy.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires William Flens set the tone: ‘We are celebrating not just the day of July 4th, but all that has made America, America.‘
Beyond the speeches, guests discovered American gastronomy, culture, and the achievements of NASA’s Artemis II mission — the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years — whose poster was prominently displayed at the venue.
On the bilateral front, Flens highlighted the strength of the Chad-U.S. partnership in education, security, and trade — pointing to Chad’s recent deployment to Haiti under the UN mission as a testament to shared values.
On the economy, he invoked a famous presidential maxim: ‘The business of America is business‘ (Calvin Coolidge) — arguing that a strong private sector remains the engine of lasting prosperity.
His message to Africa was direct: ‘Africa is not a continent that should depend on aid, but rather a leading trade partner. Entrepreneurship, innovation and trade will create lasting prosperity for the Chadian people and the American people.‘
As America looks ahead, the Tricentennial will not come until 2076. But on this July evening in N’Djamena, the next 250 years already felt like they were beginning.
