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In Chad, Christians and Muslims begin sacred seasons on the same day

February 17, 2026

By Djinodji SOLMENGAR

This year marks a rare moment on the religious calendar as Muslims and Catholics begin two major spiritual seasons on the same day: Ramadan and Lent.

For Muslims in Chad and across the world, Ramadan is a sacred month of fasting, prayer and charity.

From dawn to sunset, believers abstain from food and drink, dedicating the time to spiritual reflection, self-discipline and generosity. The month ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

At the same time, Catholics enter Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and lasts 40 days.

The season calls for repentance, fasting, prayer and almsgiving in preparation for Easter.

While fasting practices differ, both periods share a common purpose: spiritual renewal, sacrifice, forgiveness and a deeper commitment to faith.

Ramadan and Lent each emphasize moral reflection, compassion for the poor and a stronger relationship with God.

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.

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