Chad

Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It shares borders with Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. With an area of around 1,300,000 km², Chad is the fifth-largest country in Africa and has a population of about 19 million people, including the capital city N'Djamena.

The country features diverse landscapes, from the Sahara desert in the north to the fertile Sudanian Savanna in the south. Lake Chad, a major wetland in Africa, gives the nation its name. Arabic and French are the official languages, and the main religions are Islam and Christianity.

Chad has a rich history, with early human settlements dating back thousands of years. It gained independence from France in 1960 but has faced ongoing challenges, including civil wars, political instability, and economic difficulties. Despite these struggles, Chad continues to work toward development and stability.

History

Main article: History of Chad

Early history

In the 7th millennium BC, the land that is now Chad was a good place for people to live, especially in the north. Many important old African archaeological sites are in Chad, especially in the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti Region, some of which are older than the year 2000 BC.

For thousands of years, the area around Lake Chad has been home to farmers and people who stayed in one place. It became a meeting point for many different cultures. One of the earliest groups was the Sao, known from old objects and stories passed down. The Sao were later taken over by the Kanem Empire, the first of several big empires in Chad’s dry central area. Other empires, like the Sultanate of Bagirmi and the Wadai Empire, grew later in the 1500s and 1600s. These empires were rich because they controlled important trade routes across the desert. Though many people in these empires followed Muslim traditions, they did not rule the grassy southern lands, except sometimes to capture people for slaves.

French colonial period (1900–1960)

Main article: French Chad

French rulers took control of Chad in 1900. By 1920, France fully controlled the area and included it in French Equatorial Africa. French leaders did not work hard to unite Chad or make it modern, unlike in other colonies. They mostly wanted workers for farms and raw materials like cotton, which they began to grow a lot in 1929. Because France did not send many workers, only the people in the south, mainly the Sara, were ruled closely. Schools and government were not well developed.

After World War II, France let Chad’s people elect leaders. In 1960, Chad became independent, with François Tombalbaye as its first president.

Tombalbaye rule (1960–1979)

Tombalbaye banned other political groups and ruled alone. His poor decisions and harsh ways made people angry, especially between different groups. In 1965, people in the north started a big fight against his government. Tombalbaye’s rules became more strange, and he lost support even from his own people. He was removed from power and killed in 1975, and fighting continued.

Chad's first civil war (1979–1987)

With no strong government, Libya tried to take control. With help from France, Chad’s people united against Libya and pushed its army out of the country in 1987.

Dictatorship of Habré (1987–1990)

A leader named Hissène Habré took control, using fear and unfairness to stay in power. He favored his own people and treated others badly. In 1990, another leader, Idriss Déby, removed Habré from power.

Déby dynasty and democracy with second Civil War (1990–present)

Déby tried to bring peace and allowed many political groups again. Chad got its first new rules in 1996, and Déby was elected president. Oil was found in 2003, but instead of bringing peace, it caused more fights. Déby changed the rules to let himself stay longer, which made many people angry.

In 2006 and again in 2008, groups tried to take over the capital but failed. In 2021, Déby died during a fight with rebels, and his son, Mahamat Déby, became the new leader. He was officially made president in 2024 after elections that many people argued were not fair.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Chad

Chad is a large landlocked country in central Africa, covering an area of 1,284,000 square kilometres. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest at Lake Chad, and Niger to the west. The capital, N'Djamena, is far from any sea port.

Chad features diverse landscapes, including deserts, savannas, and mountains. It has several important regions and animals, such as elephants and lions, though many large animal groups have decreased greatly over time. Efforts are ongoing to protect wildlife and plant life in the country's parks and reserves.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Chad

Chad has a large and young population. In 2017, the country had around 15.8 million people, with just over 1.5 million living in the capital city, N'Djamena. About half of Chad’s people live in the southern part of the country, where it is more crowded.

The country has many different ethnic groups and languages. Arabic and French are the official languages, but there are also more than 100 other languages spoken. Chad’s people practice many religions, including Islam, Christianity, and traditional African beliefs. Education can be difficult to access for many children, and many do not attend school regularly.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Chad

Chad's government is led by a president who has a lot of power. The president chooses the prime minister and many important leaders, including judges and military officers. The president can declare a state of emergency if there is a serious threat. Elections happen every five years for the president.

Chad's laws come from both French civil law and local Chadian traditions. The highest courts are the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Council. The National Assembly has 155 members who make laws. They meet three times a year and can approve or reject government plans.

Internal opposition and foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Chad

Chad has faced opposition groups trying to change the government. France has been an important ally, helping with military support. Recently, France ended its military presence in Chad. There have been many rebel groups over the years, some of which have tried to take over the country.

Military

Chad's military has about 33,250 active soldiers. It includes ground forces, air force, and security services. The military is organized into different regions and battalions. Chad works with other countries in the region to fight insurgent groups.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Chad, Departments of Chad, and Sub-prefectures of Chad

Chad is divided into 23 provinces, each governed by a president-appointed leader. These provinces are further split into departments and sub-prefectures. The government wants local communities to help with their own development, but local elections have not been held.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Chad, Agriculture in Chad, and Petroleum industry in Chad

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, with most people living in poverty. The country relies heavily on farming and raising animals for food and income. Cotton and oil are important exports, but challenges like civil conflict and limited infrastructure make development difficult.

Main article: Transport in Chad

Chad's transportation system has struggled to grow due to past conflicts. Today, there are more paved roads, but many are still hard to use during certain times of the year. The country depends on nearby Cameroon for train travel and shipping. Chad has several airports, including one international airport in the capital city.

Culture

Chad has a rich cultural heritage due to its many different groups of people. The government supports culture by having museums and celebrating national holidays, including Christian and Muslim festivals.

Chad's food mainly uses millet, a type of grain. Popular dishes include millet balls with sauces and fish that is dried or smoked. Traditional music uses instruments like the kinde harp, kakaki horn, and hu hu string instrument. Famous Chadian music groups include Chari Jazz and Tibesti. Football is the most popular sport in Chad, and some players have joined teams in Europe. Basketball and a special style of wrestling are also common.