Throughout N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, a distinctive cry echoes through numerous neighborhoods and streets: « Hadid kilo! Hadid kilo! ». This refers to the growing phenomenon of itinerant scrap metal merchants, often pushing carts laden with salvaged iron. This trade, colloquially known as « Hadid kilo », has witnessed a significant surge in popularity across the city.

Local residents have observed that this activity has transformed into a lucrative business, inadvertently attracting young children. Many of these scrap metal traders, reportedly from neighboring nations such as Niger and Nigeria, are said to operate without the necessary administrative permits or residency documents. Their primary motivation appears to be accumulating quick profits before returning to their home countries.

Disturbing incidents linked to this trade have been reported in various parts of the city. In the Ngabo district, for instance, a 10-year-old child allegedly sold his mother’s gas cylinder to a « Hadid kilo » merchant for a mere 600 FCFA. Similarly, in Ndjari, an 8-year-old reportedly sold his younger brother’s bicycle for 250 FCFA. Another case in the Zafaye neighborhood involved a child selling a component from his father’s vehicle engine for 1,000 FCFA.

For a considerable number of parents, this particular trade is seen as actively promoting theft among children, fostering hazardous behaviors. Numerous citizens express concern that this practice encourages minors to pilfer household items, which they then quickly sell for small sums of money.

In response to this escalating situation, residents are urgently appealing to Chadian authorities for swift action. They are specifically requesting measures such as prohibiting the purchase of scrap metal from children, implementing stringent controls on itinerant traders operating in neighborhoods and markets, and establishing robust safeguards to protect minors from engaging in such activities.

According to various observers, it is imperative that the government and local officials in Chad make decisive interventions. These actions are crucial for safeguarding the education of children and combating behaviors that could lead to delinquency, thus ensuring a more promising future for the nation’s youth.