Chad has imposed a ban on sand extraction along the Chari River (a major waterway flowing through the capital N'Djamena and forming part of the border with Cameroon), citing mounting environmental damage to the river's ecosystem. The measure has sparked controversy among local communities and workers who depend on sand mining for their livelihoods. The ban reflects growing concerns across the Lake Chad Basin about the degradation of waterways already under severe strain from climate change and overuse.