Chad

This Page was last updated on the 19th October, 2007.

 

Return to the Country Index Page

Country News

With three thousand European peace-keepers due to arrive in the east of Chad, clashes are reported in the town of Goz Beida. rebels were due to be integrated into the army but left their posts recently.

News Background: President Deby came to power in 1990 with an overnight dash across the country to N'djamena. Now rebels in the east plot against him. One rebel group is headed by former advisors to the president; Tom and Timan Erdimi of the RAFD (Rally of Democratic Forces). They turned back on 27th November 2006 during a push on the capital. However, a former defence minister, Mahamat Nouri who leads the UFDD (Union of Forces for Democracy and Development) recently reconciled with the government and has ended his rebellion by signing a treaty with the Chad government in Libya. He has been rewarded with the post of defence minister. His forces captured the town of Abeche recently and stated that they would proceed slowly to the capital. On 1st December 2006, rebels took over the town of Guereda, capturing arms, the BBC reported. President Deby has rejected calls from the UN for peacekeeping troops to guard the Chadian border with Darfur. Janjaweed militias are raiding in Chad at will, terrorizing the refuggees that they have forced out of Darfur. However, President Deby has asked for internation help to police the area.

 

In the background, the humanitarian disaster of Darfur is overflowing into eastern Chad and into the Central African Republic. The wealth from Chad's oil reserves is also a stimulant in the politics of the country.

Official Name

Republic of Chad
Former Name Chad (formerly French; placed under the authority of the governor general at Congo [Brazzaville] in 1905; joined Gabon, Oubangui-Chari, and Congo [Brazzaville] in the Federation of French Equatorial Africa [A.E.F.] in 1910; northern region occupied by the French in 1914; gained colonial status in 1920; French disolved the A.E.F. in September 1958; became autonomous member of the French Community in 1959.)

Capital

N'Djamena

Main Towns

Abeche, Moundou, N'Djamena (pop. 1 million est.), Sarh.

Subdivisions

14 prefectures: Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile (in the future the prefectures may be changes to 28 departments).

Independence

11 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution passed by referendum 31 March 1996
National Holiday Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

UN Membership

20 September 1960

OAU Membership

25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)

Commonwealth

n/a

Other Organisations

In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC), Central African States Economic Community (CEAC), Central African Economic and Monetary Community (or Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States, CEMAC), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Community of Saharan and Sahelian States (CENSAD/COMESSA or Community of Sahel Saharan States, CEN-SAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Franc Zone (FZ), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW - signatory), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).

Population

World Bank Figures: 7,622,840 (1999), 7,861,000 (2000), 8,100,425 (2001), 8,340,787 (2002), 8,581,741 (2003)
Other Sources: 5,586,505 (July 1995), 8,707,078 (July 2001 est.) 9,253,493 (July 2003 est.) 9,826,419 (July 2005 est.)

Area

495,755 sq. mls. (1,284,000 sq. kms.)

Density

4 per sq.km. (1995)

Highest Point

Mt. Koussi 11,204 ft. (3,415 m.)

Lowest Point

Bodele Depression 525 ft. (160 m.)

Neighbours

Cameroon (SW), Central African Republic (S), Libya (N), Niger (W), Nigeria (W), Sudan (E)

Life Expectancy

48 years (1995), total population:  50.88 years, male:  48.86 years, female:  52.98 years (2001 est.)
total population: 48.51 years male: 46.97 years female: 50.1 years (2003 est.)
total population: 47.94 years male: 46.84 years female: 49.09 years (2005 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 105 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 93.82 deaths/1,000 live births male: 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.) 4.8% (2003 est.)
people living with HIV/AIDS: 150,000 (2001 est.) 200,000 (2003 est.)
deaths: 14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number higher) (2001 est.) 18,000 (2003 est.)

IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Chad - Updated: Sept 2004
Population: 8.4 million
HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 4.8
No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 200,000
No. Of People in need of ART: 15,000
No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): 800
No. Of People on ART Public Sector: 600
No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: 200
No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 1,000
Front Line Drug Regimen: --
HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 5
Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 3: Approved 07-Jul-03): US$7,380,156.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$914,619.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): Nil
Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil

Adult Literacy Rate

total population:  48.1%, male:  62.1%, female:  34.7% (1995 est.)
total population: 47.5% male: 56% female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Ethnic Groups

200 distinct groups - in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba (mainly Muslim); in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa (mainly Christian or animist)

Languages

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects.

Religions

Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, Catholic 7%, Traditional Religion (Animist) 7%, other 7%

Type of Government

Republic

President

Lt. Gen Idriss Deby (since 4 December 1990, re-elected 2nd June 1996 [19/10/2005])

Prime Minister

Pascal Yoadimnadji (since 3 February 2005 ), previous Moussa Faki

Political Parties

Federation Action for the Republic (FAR); National Rally for Development and Progress (RNDP); National Union for Democracy and Renewal (UNDR); Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS); Union for Renewal and Democracy (URD); Viva Rally for Development and Progress (Viva RNDP)

Ruling Party

Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA, XAF) Franc (100 centimes)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

GDP

US$213 (1992) US$200 (1994) US$1,138m (1995)
GDP: US$1.6 billion (2002 est.) US$2.65 billion (2003)
purchasing power parity - US$15.66 billion (2004 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity US$1,100 (2002 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$1,600 (2004 est.)

GNP

US$230 (1992) US$125 (1994) US$180 (1995)

Per Capita Income GDP per Head: US$ 215 (2002 est.) Per capita income US$237 (2003)
Population Below Poverty Line 80% (2001 est.)
Land Use arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.12% (2001) Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Oil and Natural Gas

Oil production: 200,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
consumption: 1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
exports: NA (2001)
imports: NA (2001)
Major oilfield and pipeline projects started in 2000.
Pipelines: oil 205 km (2004)

Military Branches: Armed Forces (including National Army, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Rapid Intervention Force, National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT), Presidential Security Guard, Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,940,328 (2003 est.)
Expenditures US$40.74 million, 1.9% of GDP (FY02)
Economic Aid Received US$238.3 million (US$125 million by Taiwan [August 1997], US$30 million by African Development Bank, ODA US$150 million
US$30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA US$150 million (2001 est.)
Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$25 (1999), US$17 (2000), US$23 (2001), US$27 (2002), US$29 (2003)

Debt

Severely indebted (HIPC)
World Bank Figures: US$587,000,000 (2000), US$628,000,000 (2001), US$612,000,000 (2002), US$891,699,968 (2003)
Other Sources: US$740m (1994) US$908m (1995) US$1 billion (1999 est.) US$1.1 billion (2000 est.)

Major Imports

Basic foods, petroleum products, machinery & transport equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports from

US 38%, France 26%, Cameroon 8%, Nigeria 5% (2001)
France 22.9%, Cameroon 13.7%, US 11.8%, Portugal 10.9%, Germany 7.7%, Belgium 4.8% (2004) US$500.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Major Exports

Raw cotton meat live animals textiles hides & skins natron gums & resins

Exports to

Portugal 28%, Germany 15%, France 7%, Poland 6% (2001)
US 74.2%, China 14.8%, Portugal 5.2% (2004) US$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 19 October, 2007

Page 10 of 61

First Previous Next Last