Chad
Republic of ChadRepublique du Tchad
republicIndependence 11 August 1960 (from France)
Chad as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Central Africa, south of Libya
15 fieldsInternational disputes
- the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994;
- Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in Chad;
- demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Terrain
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
- lowest point:
- Djourab Depression 175 m
- highest point:
- Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources
petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Environment
- current issues:
- inadequate supplies of potable water;
- improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
- desertification
- natural hazards:
- hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
- periodic droughts;
- locust plagues
- international agreements:
- party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
- signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44% (male 1,543,688; female 1,535,729)
- 15-64 years:
- 53% (male 1,807,361; female 1,881,930)
- 65 years and over:
- 3% (male 91,998; female 116,139) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.79 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Ethnic divisions
nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
- north and center:
- Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
- south:
- non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa)
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Government
Republic; President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990, after seizing power on 3 December 1990); Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995) elected by the Sovereign National Conference
22 fieldsName of country
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Chad
- conventional short form:
- Chad
- local long form:
- Republique du Tchad
- local short form:
- Tchad
Administrative divisions
- 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture);
- Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Legal system
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990, after seizing power on 3 December 1990); note - transitional government's mandate was scheduled to expire in May 1996; the first round of presidential elections was scheduled for 2 June 1996, with a runoff on 23 June if necessary
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995) elected by the Sovereign National Conference
- cabinet:
- Council of State appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition
- popular elections to the former National Consultative Council (Conceil National Consultatif) were last held 8 July 1990;
- this body was disbanded on 3 December 1990 by President DEBY and on 8 March 1991 replaced with the Provisional Council of the Republic having 30 members whom he appointed;
- this body, in turn, was replaced on 6 April 1993 by a 57-member Higher Transitional Council (Conseil Superieur de Transition) elected by a specially convened Sovereign National Conference;
- popular elections, formerly scheduled for April 1995, were initially postponed by mutual agreement of the parties concerned until at least May 1996 and subsequently postponed until after the rainy season (as late as October 1996);
- note - the name of the anticipated new legislative body has not been announced
Political parties and leaders
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), former dissident group, Idriss DEBY, chairman
note: President DEBY, who promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by April 1994, subsequently twice postponed these initiatives;
there are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 opposition political parties
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT
- chancery:
- 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 462-4009
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II
- embassy:
- Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
- mailing address:
- B. P. 413, N'Djamena
- telephone:
- [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33
Flag
- three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
- similar to the flag of Romania;
- also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band;
- design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource | endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most | underdeveloped countries in the world.
20 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 40,000 kW
Economic overview
Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s.
More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994.
Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers.
The devaluation resulted in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; in contrast to other Francophone countries, Chad continued to suffer high inflation in 1995 because of the government's lack of financial discipline. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term.
Industries
cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Agriculture
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports
$132 million (f.o.b., 1993)
- commodities:
- cotton, cattle, textiles, fish
- partners:
- France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Sudan, Central African Republic
Imports
$201 million (f.o.b., 1993)
- commodities:
- machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%;
- textiles;
- note - excludes military equipment
- partners:
- US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Italy, Germany
Exchange rates
CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991) note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 47 in all
Networkskm
Communications
Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and | Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
9 fieldsTelephone system
primitive system
- domestic:
- fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1987 est.) note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 1,562,052
- males fit for military service:
- 809,210
- males reach military age (20) annually:
- 63,254 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Chad.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/chad/1996.