Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which has sporadically flared up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005, new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and made probing attacks into eastern Chad despite signing peace agreements in December 2006 and October 2007. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits and won another controversial election in 2006. Sporadic rebel campaigns continued throughout 2006 and 2007. The capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.

Central Africa, south of Libya

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Africa

slightly more than three times the size of California

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

tropical in south, desert in north

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

300 sq km (2008)

43 cu km (1987)

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

10,758,945 (July 2011 est.)

2.009% (2011 est.)

39.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

15.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

N'DJAMENA (capital) 808,000 (2009)

5.05 children born/woman (2011 est.)

3.4% (2009 est.)

210,000 (2009 est.)

11,000 (2009 est.)

urban: 67% of population

rural: 44% of population

total: 50% of population

urban: 33% of population

rural: 56% of population

total: 50% of population (2008)

urban: 23% of population

rural: 4% of population

total: 9% of population

urban: 77% of population

rural: 96% of population

total: 91% of population (2008)

Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)

Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects

3.2% of GDP (2009)

republic

22 regions (regions, singular - region); Barh el Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Ville de N'Djamena, Wadi Fira

11 August 1960 (from France)

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed constitutional term limits

mixed legal system of civil and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Assembly (188 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Supreme Court; Constitutional Council; High Court of Justice; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Alliance for the Renaissance of Chad or ART, an alliance among the ruling MPS, RDP, and Viva-RNDP; Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Delwa Kassire KOUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

rebel groups

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that began in 2000. At least 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. Chinese companies are also expanding exploration efforts and are currently building a 300-km pipeline and the country's first refinery. The nation's total oil reserves are estimated at 1.5 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

$17.36 billion (2010 est.)

$16.52 billion (2009 est.)

$16.48 billion (2008 est.)

$7.848 billion (2010 est.)

5.1% (2010 est.)

0.3% (2009 est.)

-0.4% (2008 est.)

$1,600 (2010 est.)

$1,600 (2009 est.)

$1,600 (2008 est.)

4.293 million (2007)

NA%

80% (2001 est.)

14.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

4% (2010 est.)

10% (2009 est.)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

4.75% (31 December 2008)

NA%

$920.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$937.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.257 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.008 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$943.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$566.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$NA

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

3% (2010 est.)

100 million kWh (2007 est.)

93 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

115,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

157,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

1,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)

1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

$-2.6 billion (2010 est.)

$-2.305 billion (2009 est.)

$3.036 billion (2010 est.)

$2.709 billion (2009 est.)

oil, cattle, cotton, gum arabic

US 90.06%, France 4.81%, China 1.6% (2009)

$2.631 billion (2010 est.)

$2.539 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

France 17.74%, Cameroon 12.7%, China 11.23%, US 7.59%, Italy 6.54%, Ukraine 5.33%, Netherlands 4.37% (2009)

$868 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$685 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.749 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$NA (31 December 2010)

$4.5 billion (2006 est.)

$NA

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

495.28 (2010)

472.19 (2009)

447.81 (2008)

480.1 (2007)

522.59 (2006)

13,000 (2009)

2.686 million (2009)

1 state-owned TV broadcast station; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; about 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2007)

.td

5 (2010)

168,100 (2009)

56 (2010)

oil 265 km (2010)

(Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season) (2010)

Armed Forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT), Chadian Air Force (Force Aerienne Tchadienne, FAT), Gendarmerie (2008)

20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

1.7% of GDP (2009)

since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries