There is so little life in this state! Most of it is occupied by sands. And the people who inhabit it are very poor. But still, even tourists come to this. What do they want to see here?
Chad is the poorest country in Africa
The country of Chad is one of the poorest states on the African continent, it is located in its northern part. The main part of the country is occupied by the Sahara desert. - the city of N'Djamena. The state has no access to the sea at all, borders on other countries: in the north - with Libya, in the south - with the Central African Republic, in the west - with Cameroon and Nigeria, in the east - with Sudan.
The flag of the Republic of Chad consists of three vertical stripes of the same width - blue, yellow and red. The blue color symbolizes the sky, hope and water. The yellow represents the sun and the desert in the northern part of the country. The red color symbolizes progress, unity, as well as the blood shed for the independence of Chad. In the southwestern part of the state, the border runs right along the famous Lake Chad.
Population
The population of the country is about 10 million people, and in terms of population, the Republic of Chad is in 75th place in the world. This African state has two official languages - French and Arabic. The population of the south also speaks the Sara language, there are about 120 dialects. The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Chad notes that at the age of 15, only 35% of Chadians can speak and write in French or Arabic. Average age residents of the country - 16.9 years. The birth rate is quite high, but there are also a lot of deaths. In terms of mortality, the Republic of Chad is in 5th place in the world. Needless to say, not the most prosperous country. The number of maternal deaths is the highest in the world.
Drinking water is practically a luxury, available to only 27% of the population. More than 80% of the population is considered unemployed. Chad has a huge number of people with AIDS - more than 200 thousand people. At the same time, medicine is practically absent. There are hospitals only in large cities, and doctors are employees of the Red Cross, all foreigners. There are frequent civil wars, droughts and famines in the republic. All this makes Chad one of the poorest
Climatic conditions
The Republic of Chad has a very contrasting climate. In its northern and southern parts, it differs sharply. Accordingly, and vegetable world African state is heterogeneous. In the north, the country of Chad is a sandy and rocky desert, where oases with rather poor flora and fauna are very rare. The average temperature in January is +15 degrees, and in summer, in July - +30 degrees. Maximum temperatures rise to +56 degrees. In this part, during the dry period, a dry hot wind, the harmatan, often blows, bringing drought and locusts. In the north, it may not rain for years, but it may rain, leading to flooding. In the south, the Republic of Chad is represented by semi-deserts and savannahs. In winter, the average air temperature here is +22 degrees, in summer - +30-35 degrees. Small rains abruptly turn into heavy downpours, during the monsoon period their number becomes even greater. But in the south, precipitation is distributed more evenly.
Lake Chad
An amazing body of water, located among the sands of Africa, is called the "Sea of the Sahara". This is Lake Chad. It is interesting because the water there is almost fresh, although usually in deserts, in lakes without a drain, the water is salty. It is also noteworthy that the water level in the lake varies greatly every 20-30 years and depends on the amount of precipitation. In rainy years, the depth reaches 3-5 meters, and the area increases by 2.5 times. Such an amount fresh water in the center of the sands, of course, attracts a huge number of birds and animals. Here you can meet hippos, crocodiles and manatees, which are generally unknown how they got here. They usually live in the sea.
Traditions and features
About half of all the inhabitants of the country profess Islam, about 40% are Christians. 28% of the population of Chad live in cities, the rest live in villages or generally lead a nomadic lifestyle. Mostly people move from place to place in the northern part of the country. These nomadic tribes are warlike groups, they live apart, they do not make contact with others. Within the tribes there are strict laws of patriarchy. They live in tents made of dense fabric or in clay houses. Each family has its own property, which is not available to other families. This is an oasis, a palm grove, a spring. Particular attention is paid to the education of children, especially boys. They deeply honor the traditions of their ancestors and the worship of pagan gods.
- The fresh water of Lake Chad is unusable. Although its reserves in the reservoir are huge and thanks to it they get good harvests, but all of it is polluted. Water cannot be used for drinking purposes. It is especially unusual for tourists that it will not be possible to use it in everyday life either. You should always have bottled water.
- To start photographing anything in the country, you need to get permission in advance from the Ministry of Information or the police department. It will indicate what exactly is allowed to be seen on camera. To take a picture of a local resident, you need to ask him for permission.
- The women of this African republic still artificially change the shape of their bodies with the help of metal objects. For example, insert them into the lips.
- On banknotes of the state, in addition to political figures, the most beautiful girl in Chad, Bitta Kellu, is also depicted. There are no other countries like this in the world.
- There was a conflict between Chad and Libya. This is the only war that has received the name of the brand of the car "Toyota". Chad won it, thanks to the SUVs of this brand.
- Looking directly into the eyes of the interlocutor is considered indecent.
- The local people say that the weather is bad when the sun is shining and the weather is good when it rains.
Chad cannot be considered a tourist country. Many factors hinder the development of tourism. First of all, this is a huge number of infectious diseases due to acute. Only the capital of the Republic of Chad and some other large cities have medical facilities, but there are not many of them. To visit this African country, you need to apply for a visa. You can get it in neighboring countries, for example, in Cameroon or Sudan. It is noteworthy that in order to obtain a visa, the list of required documents includes a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
And yet Chad is visited by tourists. They are attracted by the unique landscapes of Africa, interesting original local tribes, flora and fauna. For the sake of all this, they are ready to travel thousands of kilometers.
inland state. It borders in the southwest with Cameroon and Nigeria, in the west with Niger, in the north with Libya, in the east with Sudan, and in the south with the CAR (Central African Republic).
Nature.
Most of the territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, which alternate with flat depressions. The northern part of the country's territory is occupied by rocky and sandy deserts with occasional oases. In the northwest is the Tibesti highlands, where the highest point of the country is the Emi-Kusi volcano (3415 m). In the south, semi-desert and savanna. Swamps occupy large areas in the southern and southeastern regions. Minerals - aluminum, beryl, bauxite, tungsten, clay, iron, gold, limestone, kaolin (clay), caustic soda, copper, oil, tin, table salt, natural gas and uranium.
The climate of the northern regions is tropical, desert, the southern - subequatorial. In the north, the average monthly air temperatures range from +15 to +35° C. The average annual rainfall is approx. 100 mm. In the south, the air warms up to + 26–30 ° С, up to 1000–1400 mm of precipitation falls annually. A dense network of rivers (Batha, Logon, Mayo-Kebi, Mbere, Shari, etc.) is typical for the southern regions, while there are no rivers in the northern ones. The rivers Shari (the main water artery of the country) and Logon are navigable. Large lakes - Iro, Fitri and freshwater island of Chad (4th largest in Africa). In the dry period of the year (October-July), harmatan blows in the northern regions - a hot northeast wind that brings a lot of dust and sharply worsens visibility.
The flora of the northern regions is represented by shrubs and undersized plants - askar, drin, ephedra, jujube, etc. In the south, acacias (including hevea), baobabs, date palms and doum palms grow. Animal world- antelopes, hippos, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, leopards, foxes, lions, rhinos, monkeys, birds (ibis, bustards, ostriches, weavers, flamingos), elephants and jackals. Lots of snakes, lizards and insects (including termites, tsetse flies).
Population.
Most of the inhabitants are concentrated in the south of the country. The average population density is 6.5 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Most of the population is concentrated in the southern regions of Chad.
Its average annual growth in 2012 was 1.95%.
Birth rate - 37.99 per 1000 people, mortality - 14.85 per 1000 people.
Child mortality - 94.78 per 1000 newborns. 47.9% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 2.8%. Life expectancy - 49.07 years (men - 47.95, women - 50.22). (All indicators are given as of 2013).
The per capita income in 2012 was approx. 2 thousand US dollars.
A polyethnic state, one of the most ethnically complex states in the world. There are approx. 200 ethnic groups (Arabs, Bagirmi, Dagu, Zaghawa, Kanuri, Kreish (or Kresh), Maba (or Vadai), Massalit (or Mimi), Mbum, Mubi, Sarah, Tama, Tubu, Fulbe, Hausa, etc.). The most numerous peoples are the Sarah and the Arabs. Of the local languages, the most common is the language of the Sara people and more than 120 local dialects (Daza, Jonkor, Karembo, Teda, etc.). There are approx. 1 thousand French. Chad (like Somalia and Ethiopia) is part of a zone marked by acute inter-ethnic conflicts and many years of internal wars.
The rural population is 20%. Big cities- Abeche, Mundu (about 100 thousand people) and Sarkh (about 120 thousand people) - 2002.
One of the main exporters of labor migrants in Central Africa. During the long civil war, refugees from Chad found refuge in Benin, Sudan and other countries of the region. The problem of refugees from neighboring Sudan is acute (there are about 200 thousand people, with the help of the UN, 12 camps have been organized for them in Chad).
Religions.
51% of the population are Muslims professing Sunni Islam, 35% are Christians (most Catholics), 10% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, the forces of nature, etc., fetishism is especially developed) - 2003. Islam began to penetrate into the territory of Chad in con. 11th c. Muslims live mainly in the northern regions. The spread of Christianity began in the beginning. 20th century (the first Protestant mission was opened in 1923, the Catholic one in 1929). There are also a small number of Baha'is in Chad.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
State device.
Republic. The constitution adopted on March 31, 1996, with subsequent changes, is in force. The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, who is elected by universal direct and secret suffrage for a 5-year term. He can be elected to this post an unlimited number of times. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. 155 deputies of the National Assembly are elected by universal direct and secret suffrage for 4 years. The Senate is elected on the basis of indirect elections for a 6-year term, 1/3 of its membership is renewed every two years.
The President is Idriss Déby. Elected May 20, 2001. Has been president since December 4, 1990.
The national flag is a rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size in blue, yellow and red (from left to right). It bears a resemblance to the flag of Romania, although the blue color on the flag of Chad is darker.
administrative device.
The country is divided into 14 prefectures headed by prefects.
Judicial system.
Based on French civil law and customary law. There are Supreme, Appellate, criminal, traditional and magistrates' courts, as well as the Constitutional Council.
Armed Forces and Defense.
The National Army of Chad plays a significant role in the political life of the country. In 2002, the armed forces numbered 30.35 thousand people. (ground forces - 25 thousand people, air force - 350 people, republican guard - 5 thousand people). The protection of internal order is provided by gendarmerie units (4.5 thousand people - 2002). Recruitment to the armed forces is by conscription. Assistance in the training of military personnel and the technical equipment of the army is provided by France. There is a French station in Chad military base(950 people). Defense spending in 2003 was $55.4 million. (2.1% of GDP).
Foreign policy.
It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partner is France. In con. In the 1990s, relations with her became more complicated, including because of accusations by the French military attache of having links with the Chadian opposition. Close relations are maintained with Libya (in January 2005, President I. Deby paid a visit to Tripoli). Chad is one of the founders of the Community of States of the Sahel and Sahara created in 1997 in Libya. Relations with neighboring Sudan were complicated by its support for the Chadian rebels.
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Chad were established on November 24, 1964, between the Russian Federation and Chad - in 1992. In 2000, a bilateral intergovernmental agreement was concluded on the recognition and equivalence of educational diplomas and academic degrees.
political organizations.
A multi-party system has developed (about 60 political parties have been registered). The most influential of them: Patriotic Salvation Movement, PDS, chairman - Abbas Maldom Bada, Gen. sec. — Hissen Mahamat. Ruling party, main. in 1990 as a coalition of several opposition movements; National Rally for Democracy and Progress, NODP, the leader is Kumakoye Kassire Delva. Creation Party. in 1992; National Union for Development and Renewal, NSRO, leader - Kebzabo Saleh, gen. sec. – Topona Celestin; Rally for Democracy and Progress, ODP, chairman - Shua. Base Party. in 1992; Union for Renewal and Democracy, SOD, leader - Kamuge Wadal Abdelkader. Creation Party. in 1992; Federation "Action for the Republic", leader - Yorongar Ngarleji; " National Liberation Front of Chad,FROLINA", chairman. — Waddey Goukuni. Base Party. in 1965.
trade union associations.
Association of trade unions in Chad. Created as a result of the merger in 1988 of the Trade Union Confederation of Chad and the National Association of Workers of Chad. Chairman - Jimbage Dombal, Gen. sec. - Assali Hamdallah Jibrin.
ECONOMY
Chad belongs to the group of the poorest and least developed countries in the world (80% of the population lives below the poverty line).
Economic conditions were positive in last years, with real GDP growth reaching 13% in 2010 due to high global oil prices and a good harvest. GDP growth in 2012 was estimated at 7.3%. The investment climate in the country remains challenging due to limited infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, government bureaucracy, and massive corruption.
At least 80% of the Chadian population derive their livelihood from agriculture and livestock.
France is the main financial donor of the country. Assistance is also provided by the European Union, Japan, the Arab States, the World Bank (WB) and the Islamic Development Bank. Much of the assistance is in the form of grants.
In 2012, GDP (purchasing power parity) amounted to 21.34 billion US dollars, the official rate of GDP was 9.723 billion US dollars. Investments - 26.8% of GDP, inflation growth was 5%.
Labor resources.
The economically active population is approx. 49% (2000).
Agriculture.
The main branch of the economy, providing up to 70% of foreign exchange earnings. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 51%, it employs 80% of the population (2012). 2.86% of the land is cultivated (2001). The main export crops are cotton and peanuts. Legumes, sesame (sesame), corn, mango, cassava, vegetables, millet, wheat, rice, sugar cane, sorghum, taro, dates and yams are also grown. Gum arabic (acacia resin) is produced - a raw material for the food, textile and pharmaceutical industries. Animal husbandry (breeding of camels, goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) is the traditional occupation of 40% of the population. Natural pastures cover an area of approx. 49 million hectares. In terms of livestock, Chad ranks first in Central Africa. Agriculture is damaged by frequent droughts, locust infestations and tsetse flies. Fishing is developing, the annual production of fish (carp, perch, catfish, etc.) is approx. 90 thousand tons
Industry.
Share in GDP - 7% (2012). The mining industry is developing: the extraction of oil, caustic salt (natron), gold, limestone and clay. Since 1993, the Doba oil field has been developed, producing approx. 225 thousand barrels of oil per day (according to estimates, oil reserves will last for 25–30 years). The manufacturing industry is represented mainly by enterprises for the processing of agricultural products (cotton ginning factories, a sugar refinery, butter, flour mills, meat processing plants, breweries, a tobacco factory). The textile and chemical industries are developing (2 perfume factories and an enterprise for the manufacture of plastic shoes), metalworking, production of building materials, a bicycle assembly plant is operating. Handicraft production is developed, including agricultural implements.
International trade.
The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2003, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 760 million, exports - 365 million. The main imports are machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, petroleum products and textiles. Main import partners: France (28.6%), USA (20.7%), Cameroon (14.6%) and the Netherlands (4.7%) - 2003. The main export commodities - cotton, livestock and gum arabic are exported in the USA (25%), Germany (17%), Portugal (15.9%), France (6.8%) and Morocco (4.5%) - 2003.
Energy.
The problem of lack of electricity is acute. 2% of the population have access to it, the rest use wood, charcoal and dung as fuel. Chad has some of the highest electricity rates in the world. Electricity is generated at a thermal power plant (N'Djamena), which uses petroleum products as fuel. The new thermal power plant in Koma (50 km from Doba) provides only oil production by the American company Exxon-Mobil. In 2003, the World Bank (WB) provided a US$55 million loan to upgrade equipment in Chad's energy industry.
Transport.
The problem of the development of the transport network and cargo transportation is acute. Railways No, the main mode of transport is road. Most of the roads are suitable for operation only during the dry period of the year (October-July) and require major repairs. Length highways is approx. 40 thousand km (with a hard surface - 412 km of roads) - 1999. Assistance in the construction of highways is provided by the European Union. IN countryside camels and donkeys are used for transportation. The length of waterways is 2 thousand km (2003). In 2012, there were more than 50 airports and runways (9 of them are paved). The international airport is located in the capital. Since 2003, the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline (1050 km) has been operating.
Finance and credit.
The monetary unit is the CFA franc (XOF), consisting of 100 centimes; firmly pegged to the euro. In the beginning. In 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 581.2XOF.
Tourism.
The development of the tourism industry is hampered by political instability and the lack of an extensive infrastructure. Foreign tourists are attracted by the diversity of natural landscapes, flora and fauna, as well as the originality of the culture of local peoples. In 2000, the country was visited by 43.03 thousand tourists from France, the USA, Canada, Germany and other countries (in 1997 their number was 26.9 thousand people).
Attractions: The National Museum in N'Djamena, the Siniaka-Minia Reserve, the Zakouma and Manda National Parks, the picturesque coast of the island of Chad and the monuments of the ancient Sao culture located there (5th century BC - 17th century AD) ).
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education.
Koranic schools in Chad began to work from mid. 19th century, European-type schools were created in the 1920s. Officially, 6 years of primary education is compulsory, which children receive between the ages of 6 and 12. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 12 and takes place in two stages - 4 and 3 years. The higher education system includes National University(opened in the capital in 1972), the National School of Administration and Magistracy (founded in 1980), medical (created in 1990) and several technical colleges. In 2002, 186 teachers worked at five faculties of the university and 4.05 thousand students studied. Teaching is conducted in French and Arabic. According to UNESCO 2003 data, Chad is on the list of countries with the lowest female primary school attendance rate. In 2003, 47.5% of the population (56% of men and 39.3% of women) were literate.
Healthcare.
The UN report on the human development of the planet in 2004 put Chad at 175th place. Physicians are trained abroad and at medical faculty University in N'Djamena. In January 2005 Parliament passed the AIDS Act.
Architecture.
The traditional dwellings of peoples leading a sedentary lifestyle are round in shape, the walls are adobe, the roof is grass, conical or flat. The nomadic population lives in collapsible wooden-framed tents covered with camel skins or palm leaf mats. In modern cities, houses are built of brick and reinforced concrete structures.
Fine Arts and Crafts.
Origin visual arts in Chad began long before our era: the rock paintings found in the area between the lakes of Chad and Fitri date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. The art of Sao is widely known. Sao culture, which existed in the 5th century. BC. – 17th century AD in the territories of modern southern Chad, northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon.
Crafts are widespread: blacksmithing (making vessels, dancing and ritual masks from brass and copper, etc.), woodcarving, making wooden musical instruments, making and painting vessels from pumpkins (calabash), pottery, hand weaving (making brightly colored fabrics). colors for national clothes called “bubu”), leather production is especially well developed (water skins, snakeskin shoes, wall rugs, saddles, bags, various boxes and vessels made of bull skin). Artistic crafts - making carpets from camel hair, decorative embroidery, weaving products from raffia palm leaves, tree branches and millet stalks, making bronze and copper animal figurines, as well as polychrome paintings from butterfly wings. The production of jewelry made of gold, silver (massive jewelry with carnelian and ostrich egg shells), bronze and copper is developed.
Literature.
Based on the traditions of oral folk art. During the colonial period, literature developed in Arabic. The alphabet of local languages (based on Arabic and Latin graphic characters) was created in 1976. The origin of national literature on French started in the 1960s. The first published literary work was the novel Child from Chad J. Seida (1967). Writers, poets and playwrights - A. Bangui, H. Bruno, K. Garang (pseudonym K. Dzhimet), M. Mustafa (pseudonym B. Mustafa).
Music.
National music has a long tradition. Playing musical instruments, songs and dances are closely related to everyday life local peoples. Musical instruments - algaita (a type of oboe), balafons, drums, clarinets, bells, xylophones, lutes, rattles, rattles, trumpets and flutes. Ensembles of three large double-sided drums are especially popular. Dancing - bayan, ndassion And ndon mbessi(accompany the rite of initiation), gift(fun dance) oath(performed during the burial ritual), mdomnag (dance of hunters), etc.
Theater.
Modern national theatrical art was formed on the basis of rich traditional creativity, including folk storytellers. The first permanent theater troupe "Jange" (translated from the local language means "ballet") was created in 1970.
Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.
The daily newspaper Le Progrès (Progress) and the daily bulletin Info-Chad (Info-Tchad - "Information of Chad") are regularly published in French. There are also several periodicals published irregularly. The Chad Information Agency (Agence-Info Tchad) has been operating since 1966 and is controlled by the state. Broadcasting of its own TV programs began in 1987. In 2002, there were 15 thousand Internet users.
STORY
pre-colonial period.
Archaeological finds indicate that the territory of modern Chad was inhabited c. 6 thousand years ago
In the 5th c. BC. south of the island of Chad in the basin of the Logon and Shari rivers, the so-called. Sao culture. The Sao people were engaged in fishing, hunting and farming; metalworking and the production of ceramics developed. In the 7th–8th centuries n. e. Zaghawa nomadic pastoralists came to the northeastern regions of the island of Chad. Having subjugated the indigenous peoples, in the 9th century. they created the early state formation of Kanem, which became one of the most powerful and stable in Western Sudan. In the 11th century The rulers of Kanem converted to Islam. The state reached its peak in the 13th century, in many respects this was facilitated by the active slave trade that it conducted with the countries of North Africa. The strife between the numerous contenders for the throne weakened Kanem and led to its disintegration in the con. 14th c.
In con. 15th c. in one of the former provinces of Kanem, his ruling dynasty created the state of Bornu with the capital Ngazargama. In the 16th century on the territory of Chad, the states of Bagirmi and Vadai also formed, which constantly waged wars among themselves and with Bornu. In the 1890s, Bagirmi, Bornu and Wadai, weakened by internal strife, were captured by the troops of the ruler Rabbah Khubair.
colonial period.
The first Europeans were the English explorers D. Denham and H. Clapperton. The penetration of the French began in the 1890s. After the defeat of the state of Rabbah by French troops (1900), Bagirmi and Vadai became colonial possessions of France. In 1914 the territory of Chad was declared a separate colony of France with the administrative center at Fort Lamy. A system of government based on the use of traditional rulers was introduced. In the 1920s, Christianity began to penetrate the colony. The southern regions of Chad developed at a faster pace than the northern ones. The support of the French administration was the local nobility, primarily the Sara people, who converted to Catholicism. After the forcible introduction of cotton into the economy (1925), Chad became a source of raw materials for the metropolis. Forced labor was widely used on plantations and public works.
In 1946, Chad received the status of an "overseas territory" of France, which gave it the right to representation in the French parliament and the creation of its own territorial assembly. The first political organizations arose in 1947 - the "Democratic Union of Chad" and the "Progressive Party of Chad" (PPCh) - the local section of the Democratic Rally of Africa (DOA). The PHR expressed the interests of the Christian minority in the southern regions of the country. One of its leaders was trade union leader Francois Tombalbay. In November 1958, Chad was proclaimed an autonomous republic within the French Community. Elections to the Legislative Assembly (May 31, 1959) brought a landslide victory for the PHR. On August 11, 1960, the independent Republic of Chad was proclaimed.
period of independence.
The head of the first government was F. Tombalbay, elected in September 1960 as chairman of the PHR. The constitution adopted on November 28, 1960, consolidated the multi-party system in the country; in the field of economics, a course was taken to develop entrepreneurship and attract foreign investment. The government enjoyed the support of the former metropolis.
In 1962, mass unrest of Muslims began in the north of the country, dissatisfied with the policies of the government. Their interests were expressed by the underground military-political organization Chad National Liberation Front (FROLINA), created in 1965. Anti-government protests by Muslims were suppressed with the help of French troops in 1969. , the introduction of a ritual rite of initiation, etc.), launched by the government in 1973. In April 1975, as a result of a military coup, President F. Tombalbay was killed, and power passed to General Felix Mallum. His attempts to achieve national reconciliation, including the creation of a coalition government with the participation of FROLIN leader Hissein Habré, were unsuccessful. In November 1979, a transitional government was formed, headed by the head of the armed forces FROLIN Goukuni Oueddey.
In March 1980, armed clashes between the forces of H. Habre and G. Oueddey began. The severity and lengthy nature of the civil war was aggravated not only by ethnic and religious contradictions, but also by active interference in internal affairs by France and Libya (the troops of the latter were brought into the country at the request of the government of G. Oueddey). The economic situation in Chad also worsened as a result of severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Thanks to the intervention of the OAU, on November 16, 1981, Libyan troops left Chad. However, clashes between government troops and the rebels did not stop. In 1982, H. Habre occupied the city of N'Djamena (the name of the capital since 1973), and G. Oueddey created his own government in the north of the country.
On December 1, 1990, General Idriss Deby (leader of the Patriotic Salvation Front, formed in March of that year in Sudan) seized power. In April 1991, on the basis of this organization, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (PDS) party was created. December 4, 1990 I. Deby was proclaimed president. The armed confrontation lasted until 1993, when, as a result of a national conference (January-April), a charter was adopted that regulated the political development of Chad during the transition period. According to this document, until the multi-party elections, I. Deby remained the head of state and supreme commander in chief. The multi-party system was introduced in April 1993.
In 1994, due to the deterioration of the domestic political situation in the country, the transition period was extended for another year. In January 1996, a declaration on the principles of an internal settlement was signed in Gabon between representatives of the authorities and the opposition in Chad. After a referendum, which was attended by 3.5 million citizens of Chad, on March 31, 1996, a new constitution was adopted.
The 1996 presidential elections were held on a multi-party basis and were held in two rounds. I. Debi was elected President, who received 69% of the votes. Elections to the National Assembly (November 1996) brought victory to the PDS. In economic policy, the government has staked on the further development of oil fields, which began in con. 1970s Oil production at the Doba field (south of the country) began in 1993. Its development was carried out by an international consortium, which included the American companies Exxon-Mobil (40% of the shares) and Chevron (25% of the shares), as well as the Malaysian company " Petronas". To the beginning 1998 34 state-owned enterprises were privatized (the privatization program was adopted in 1992). In order to control the management of oil revenues, the Chadian parliament in 1999 passed a law establishing a special board of 9 members. The economy of Chad benefited from a 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994 - economic growth in 1997 exceeded 4.1%.
Chad in the 21st century
In the presidential elections on May 20, 2001, I. Deby (PDS candidate) won, receiving 63.17% of the vote. According to the new electoral law of 2001, the number of seats in the National Assembly was increased from 125 to 155. The elections to the National Assembly were held on April 21, 2002 and brought a landslide victory for the PDS (110 seats), the UDP received 12 seats, the Federation "Action for the Republic" - 9.
After the commissioning in October 2003 of the 1050-km Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline, the country became an oil exporter (including to the United States).
The situation in the border regions of Chad is destabilized by the armed conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur. In May 2005, in some camps for Darfur refugees, there were bloody clashes between refugees and UN personnel (the reason for them was an attempt to stop the speculation of humanitarian aid established by some refugees). According to the UN, as a result of the conflict, approx. 1.8 million people became refugees, many of them took refuge in neighboring Chad.
The consequence of additional spending by the Government of Chad, related to the continued influx of refugees from Sudanese Darfur, was non-payment of wages. They caused a strike of civil servants, which lasted from con. 2004 to the beginning 2005. In January, for the same reason, there were also mass strikes in educational institutions Chad. In February 2005, Prime Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat resigned, and the Minister of Agriculture, Pascal Yoadimnagy, was appointed head of government. New government as top priorities domestic policy called the fight against poverty and the improvement of the management system in the country. It also announced the intention to allocate an additional 400 million CFA francs from oil revenues in 2005 to the social sector and 600 million to the development of education.
On May 16, 2004, a coup attempt was carried out by a group of military men in the country. The reason for the protest of the rebels - people from the Zaghawa people - was their dissatisfaction with the policy of I. Deby in the Darfur conflict. As a result of 48 hours of negotiations, the crisis was resolved without bloodshed.
On May 26, 2004, the National Assembly adopted an amendment to the constitution, according to which the president can be elected to this post an unlimited number of times. However, in January 2005, President I. Deby announced that, despite the constitutional reform, he was not going to run for the presidential elections in 2006. He also denied allegations that he intended to make his 26-year-old son Brahim his successor.
The problem of crime is acute, especially in the capital. After a long civil war, the population has a significant amount of weapons left, they also come from neighboring Sudanese Darfur. Government initiatives to combat crime have not produced long-term results. The new government, formed in July 2004, established the Ministry of Public Security.
Second Civil War began in December 2005 and ended in January 2010. In fact, it was a continuation of the military conflict in Darfur (Sudan), when hostilities moved to Chad, because. Chadian authorities supported the opposition in Darfur, many Chadian mercenaries fought on the side of the rebels.
Conflict in Chad erupted between Chadian government forces and opposition forces as the United Front for Democratic Change advanced into Chadian territory. But the rebel groups and government troops of Sudan also took part in the conflict. The President of Chad announced the outbreak of war between Chad and Sudan. In April 2006, the opposition, with the help of Sudanese troops, tried to take the capital of Chad, the city of N'Djamena, because. their goal was to overthrow the incumbent president. But the Chadian government forces repulsed the attack, besides, the President of Chad was supported by the UN Security Council and French President N. Sarkozy.
On May 3, 2006, presidential elections were held, in which I. Deby was re-elected (64.6% of the vote).
In October 2007, a peace treaty was signed between the opposition and the government. But already in November of the same year, hostilities resumed.
In January 2009, opposition groups united in a single coalition called the Union of Resistance Forces, whose goal was to overthrow President Déby.
April 25, 2011 held regular presidential elections. Deby was re-elected with 83.59% of the vote.
Recently, full-scale hostilities have not been conducted, but only on January 15, 2010, a peace treaty was signed between Sudan and Chad. Chadian formations were withdrawn from the Sudan, but isolated attacks and skirmishes still took place.
On May 2, 2013, it was announced that another attempt at a coup d'etat to overthrow President I. Deby had been prevented. The conspirators were arrested.
Recently, full-scale military operations were not conducted, but only on January 15, 2010 a peace treaty was signed between Sudan and Chad. Chadian formations were withdrawn from the Sudan, but isolated attacks and skirmishes still took place.
Lyubov Prokopenko
Chad on a map of Africa
(all images are clickable)
Geographical position
Chad is a state in the macro-region of Central Africa. Neighbors Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger to the west; has no access to the sea. The northern regions of the country are occupied by the desert and semi-desert regions of the Sahara, the southern regions stretch along the savannahs, the Waddai massif lies in the southeast of Chad, and the Kanem plain lies in the northwest.
On western border country is Lake Chad. It is unsuitable for navigation, because its depth is no more than 5-10 m, moreover, the lake regularly dries up, changing its size and shape. The area of the territory is 1.3 million km², which Chad to the largest countries of the African continent.
Climatic conditions in different parts of the country are heterogeneous. In the northern regions, the climate is desert and hot, in July temperatures can reach +50 ° C, in January - + 15-35 ° C.
During periods of drought, sandstorms are not uncommon - harmatans. In the southern regions of Chad, the climate is equatorial-monsoonal, with dry winters and rainy summers. The average annual precipitation varies from 100-250 mm in the north to 800-1000 mm in the south.
Flora and fauna
The desert regions of the country are practically devoid of vegetation, in the southern regions savannahs with hard-leaved grasses and shrubs predominate. In the northern part there are oases in which date palms grow.
Herbivorous mammals and predators live in tall grass savannahs; Almost all of them are under state protection. There are a large number of monkeys in the forests in the south of the country, and the areas adjacent to the Shari River and its tributaries are rich in game.
State structure
The current political state is a presidential republic. Legislative power is in the hands of a bicameral parliament (National Assembly and Senate). Administratively-territorially the state is divided into 14 prefectures. The local currency is the CFA franc. The capital of the state is the city of N'Djamena.
Population
The population is about 11.5 million people, these are mainly the peoples of the Saharan language group (Tubu), the Chadian group (Hausa) and the Arabs. The official language is French, but in everyday communication are common national languages: tuba, sari, hausa and arabic. In religious terms, half of the inhabitants of the state are Sunni Muslims, others adhere to local traditional beliefs.
Economy
Chad is an underdeveloped agricultural country. Agricultural sectors (plant growing and livestock) give approximately the same amount of GDP. Crop production is dominated by cotton cultivation, most of which is exported.
For domestic consumption, mainly millet, sorghum, and rice are cultivated; date palms are grown in oases. Animal husbandry is predominantly nomadic; about 20% of the able-bodied population is employed in this industry. The industrial sector is poorly developed and is mainly represented by enterprises for the processing of agricultural raw materials.
In the IX-XIX centuries. on the territory of modern Chad, there were several state entities - Kanem, Bornu, Vadai, etc. In 1904, the French occupied these lands and included them in the Ubangi-Shari colony, and in 1914 they separated them into a separate colony. With the collapse of French Equatorial Africa in 1960, independence was proclaimed in Chad.
Attractions
It is forbidden to export unprocessed ivory, animal skins, some rare plants, ancient coins, works of applied art from bronze from the country.
The Tibesti Highlands, located in Chad, is a unique natural monument. This is a majestic uplift of the most ancient crystalline rocks with numerous volcanic cones on top. The crater of the largest volcano Emi-Kushi in diameter reaches 13 km. The slopes of the volcano are dotted with gushing hot springs, and numerous drawings of prehistoric people have been found in the rock caves.
Lake Chad is the only sport fishing spot for many thousands of kilometers around. In winter, the coast of the lake is inhabited by colonies of flamingos and pelicans, flying from all over Europe and Western Asia to their favorite wintering grounds.
More than 200 ethnic groups live in the country and 120 languages and dialects are active.
The official languages are French and Arabic.
Chad borders Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sudan and Libya. Has no access to the sea.
State symbols
Flag- is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3, consisting of three vertical stripes: blue, yellow and red. It is a combination of the flag of France, the former metropolis, and the Pan-African colors (green, yellow, red). The blue color symbolizes the sky, hope and water. Yellow - the sun and the desert in the northern part of the country. Red - progress, unity, as well as the blood shed for the independence of Chad. The flag was approved on November 6, 1959.
Coat of arms- represents a shield with wavy blue lines, with the rising sun above it. The shield is supported by a goat and a lion. Below the shield is a medallion and a scroll with the national motto in French: "Unity, Labor, Progress".
The wavy lines on the shield are the symbol of Lake Chad, the rising sun symbolizes a new beginning. The goat on the left represents the northern part of the nation, while the southern part is represented by the lion. At the base of the shield is the National Order of Chad. The coat of arms was approved in 1970.
State structure
Form of government- presidential republic.
head of state- the president. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He is elected by universal direct and secret suffrage for a period of 5 years and can be re-elected an unlimited number of times.
Incumbent since 1990 Idris Deby
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Capital- N'Djamena.
Largest cities- Ndjamena, Mundu, Sarh.
official languages
- French and Arabic.
Territory- 1,284,000 km².
Administrative division– 22 regions.
By Lake Chad
Population– 11,193,452 people Average life expectancy: 47 years for men, 49 years for women. The largest nationalities: Sarah (28%) and Arabs (12%). Urban population about 30%.
Religion- the majority of Chadians are Muslims (57.8%). Christians make up 40% of the country's population. The largest Christian denominations are Catholics.
Currency- CFA franc.
Economy- the agricultural sector predominates (80% of employees are engaged in subsistence farming, mainly livestock breeding: sheep, goats, camels). Cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes are cultivated.
Since the end of 2003, oil production has begun, since 2004 oil has been exported. Industry: oil extraction, cotton processing, meat processing, brewing, soap and cigarette production. Natural resources: deposits of oil, bauxites, uranium, gold, beryl, tin, tantalum, copper. 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. Chad is heavily dependent on foreign aid and investment. Export: crude oil, livestock, cotton. Import: industrial products, food, textiles.
Education– is in poor condition due to low funding and reluctance of parents to send their children to school. Although attendance high school is compulsory, only 68% of boys, after graduating from primary school, continue to study further. By law, education is compulsory for children from 6 to 15 years of age. Educational opportunities for girls are limited mainly due to cultural traditions, due to early marriages. More than half of the population is illiterate. Higher education residents of Chad can get at the University of N'Djamena (opened in 1971). There are several lyceums and vocational schools.
Sport- common sports: football, basketball, athletics, martial arts, boxing and fishing (usually on Lake Chad). The national stadium is located in the capital of the country. Chad competed in the 10th Summer Olympics, making his debut in Tokyo in 1964 and has competed in every Summer Olympics since then except for Montreal and Moscow. Chadian athletes did not participate in the Winter Olympics. Chad has never won an Olympic medal.
Armed forces- consist of ground forces, gendarmerie and air force.
Nature
Most of the country's territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, alternating with flat depressions, one of which contains Lake Chad.
Lake Chad is shallow (4-7 m deep), and in the rainy season 10-11 m. The surface of the lake is not constant: it overflows in the rainy season. Rivers flow into the lake. Near the mouths of the rivers, the water is fresh, in the rest of the water it is slightly brackish. The dark, dirty water of the lake is densely overgrown with algae in places. From July to November, under the influence of rains, the water level gradually rises and the low southwestern coast is widely flooded. In a significant area, the lake is very shallow (here you can ford it on horseback).
In the north is the ancient Tibesti highlands with the volcano Emi-Kusi (3415 m) - this is the highest point in the country.
volcano caldera
The Ennedi Plateau is known for its bizarre rocks, where petroglyphs are often found.
Ennedi Plateau
The north is part of the Sahara desert, sand dunes and remnant hills (kagas) are common here. In the south - semi-deserts and savannahs, there are quite large swamps.
It is known that Chad dries up for the seventh time in the last millennium.
There are no permanent rivers in the north of the country. In the south, the river network is quite dense. The main Shari River, which flows into Lake Chad, is navigable. Rivers overflow during the rainy season, flooding vast areas and turning them into continuous swamps, and become very shallow during the dry season.
The landscape of the northern, Saharan part of the country is rocky deserts, almost devoid of vegetation, they alternate with sandy deserts with sparse vegetation (tamarix, undersized acacias, camel thorn).
Camel-thorn
Date palms, grapes and wheat grow in the oases. In the Sahel zone, semi-deserts and deserted savannahs with sparse grass cover and thickets of thorny shrubs (mainly acacias), doum palms and baobabs are found. In the extreme south, there are savannahs with a high grass cover and forests. In the floodplains of the rivers and along the shores of the lakes there are extensive grass swamps.
The desert fauna is poor. There are many large mammals in the savannas: elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes. Predators: lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas. Some savannah animals are found on the outskirts of the desert zone. Monkeys (baboons and colobuses) are found in the upper reaches of the Shari River.
Numerous snakes and lizards, insects.
There are 4 national parks and 9 reserves in the country.
Zakouma National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site in Chad
The park was founded in 1963. The area is 3,000 km². It is one of the last wildlife sanctuaries in the African Sahel and is home to a large number of large mammals: 44 species of large mammals and 250 species of birds.
Tourism
Most tourists are attracted by hunting and national park Zakuma. But Chad is a country where child abduction is common for various purposes: domestic slavery, forced grazing, forced begging, commercial sexual exploitation, and sale. The government is not making significant efforts to stop these crimes.
The development of tourism is also hampered by the political instability of the country.
Attractions: The National Museum in N'Djamena, the Siniaka-Minia nature reserve, the Zakouma and Manda national parks, the picturesque coast of Chad and the monuments of the ancient Sao culture located there (5th century BC - 17th century AD).
culture
Chad is characterized by a complex interweaving of musical cultures of various peoples that have long inhabited the country: Arabs, Sarah, tuba and others.
Sara girl
Modern music is mostly pop music. Traditional musical instruments of Chad: hu-hu (stringed instrument with a gourd), kakaki, maracas, lute, etc. The Kanembu people use flutes and drums as musical instruments. Balafons, whistles and harps are popular with the Sara people.
Balafon is a percussion instrument related to the xylophone.
Maracas is the oldest percussive-noise instrument, a kind of rattle that makes a characteristic rustling sound when shaken.
Traditional dwellings of settled peoples are round in shape, with adobe walls and conical or flat grass roofs. The nomadic population lives in collapsible wooden-framed tents covered with camel skins or palm leaf mats. In modern cities, houses are modern.
Smoking pipe
National crafts: shawl making, forged products (smoking pipes, inlaid knives, coinage, ashtrays, cigarette cases), large copper dishes and plates, copper or silver goblets and wine glasses. Popular here, as well as throughout Africa, are carved wooden masks, the manufacture of carpets from camel hair, decorative embroidery, weaving products from raffia palm leaves, tree branches and millet stalks, etc.
copper dish
During the colonial period, literature developed in Arabic. The alphabet of local languages was created in 1976 on the basis of Arabic and Latin scripts. The birth of national literature in French began in the 1960s. The first published literary work was the novel "The Child from Chad" by J. Seid (1967). Writers, poets and playwrights: A. Bangui, H. Bruno, K. Garang (pseudonym K. Jimet), M. Mustafa (pseudonym B. Mustafa).
Sights of Chad
National Museum in N'Djamena
It was founded in 1963. Its exposition includes archaeological finds found on the territory of the country: stone tools, fragments of rock art, ancient household items. There are exhibits here related to the culture and life of the inhabitants of Chad: wooden musical instruments and ritual masks, as well as calabash - vessels made from dried pumpkins, woven and wicker products, carved wooden ornaments, earthenware, metal and leather work .
Monuments of the ancient culture of Sao
Clay figurine
Sao is a sedentary agricultural culture of the interior regions of North Africa between the Logone and Shari rivers (Chad), which existed in the 5th century BC. BC e. -XVII centuries. n. e. Discovered by French scientists at the beginning of the 20th century. The basis of the economy was agriculture. Sao speakers were familiar with metalworking (iron) and pottery. Archaeologists have discovered fortified settlements of this culture. The migration of nomads put an end to the Sao.
Cathedral in Pala
Great Mosque of Djenne
In a desert
Story
Before the advent of Europeans
About 6 thousand years ago on the territory of modern Chad lived Negroids who were engaged in hunting.
In the ninth century near Lake Chad, the state of Kanem arose. From the 11th century Arab Islamization began. At the end of the XIV century. the state of Kanem ceased to exist, but in the XVI century. To the east of Lake Chad, the state of Vadai was formed, to the south - the state of Bagirmi. They constantly fought among themselves and against their neighbors, capturing slaves. IN late XIX V. parts of Vadai and Bagirmi became part of the state of Rabbah.
As part of the French colonial empire
In 1899, France began colonization in the area of Lake Chad. The French defeated Rabbah's army and declared the region French territory; in 1904 it was included in the French colony of Ubangi-Shari.
Territory of Ubangi-Shari in 1910
The conquest of certain areas of modern Chad by the French continued until 1914. In 1920, the military administration was replaced by a civilian one. The backbone of the administration was the nobility of the Sara tribe, which adopted the Catholic faith.
During World War II, the Allies conducted military operations from the territory of Chad against the German-Italian troops in Libya. In 1946, Chad received the status of an overseas territory of France. In November 1958, Chad received the status of an autonomous republic within the French Community.
Independence
Francois Tombalbay
François Tombalbaye, from the Sara tribe, head of the Progressive Party of Chad, became the President and Prime Minister of Chad. In 1962, Tombalbay banned all parties other than his own.
Tombalbai controlled the entire economy of the country, introduced a planned economy, and also formed in 1964 a paramilitary organization called the Chadian Youth Movement.
Since the mid-1960s, mass demonstrations of the population of the northern regions of Chad began against the economic and social policy authorities of Tombalbay. In 1966, a partisan organization, the National Liberation Front of Chad (FROLINA), was created with the goal of overthrowing Tombalbay. At his request, French troops entered Chad.
In the early 1970s, the economic situation in Chad deteriorated significantly. The population of many parts of the country was starving.
In April 1975, a military coup was carried out, during which Tombalbay was killed. Power passed to the head of the military junta, Brigadier General Felix Mallum. He tried to stop the war between the north and south of Chad, and in 1978 he divided power in the country between himself (as head of state) and one of the leaders of the partisans, Hissein Habré (as head of government).
In February 1979, there was armed conflict between the government troops of Mallum and the detachments of Habré, and in March of the same year, power in the country was seized by the chief leader of the FROLIN Goukuni Wedday. Mallum and Habré were removed from the supreme power, but not killed. In December 1980, Libya sent a contingent of its armed forces, including tanks, to Chad. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Oueddei announced the creation of a united Libyan-Chadian state.
Only in 1987 did Habré's detachments defeat the troops of Oueddei and the Libyans.
In December 1990, the troops of General Idris Deby occupied the capital of Chad. Deby became the president of Chad for a long time, winning elections every 5 years.
Chad in the 21st century
On February 2, 2008, rebels in Chad tried to overthrow President Idris Déby. As a result, a state of emergency was introduced in the country.
The internal political situation in Chad is characterized by armed clashes between the African and Arab part of the population and internecine tensions within the groups themselves for social, political and economic reasons. Several anti-government groups have been active since the early 1990s, periodically making and breaking peace agreements with the government; no lasting peace can be established in the country. In the east of Chad, the situation is destabilized by the armed conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, as a result of which up to 200 thousand Darfur refugees migrated to Chad; Darfur rebels use the territory of Chad as their rear base. At the same time, Chadian rebels often take refuge in Darfur.
There is always hope for a better future...
CHAD
Republic of Chad, a state in Central Africa. It borders in the south with the Central African Republic, in the east with Sudan, in the north with Libya, in the west with Niger, in the southwest with Nigeria and Cameroon. Area - 1284 thousand square meters. km. Population - 6892 thousand people (1998). The capital is the city of N'Djamena (531 thousand inhabitants in 1993). Formerly a colony of France. August 11, 1960 Chad proclaimed an independent state.
Chad. The capital is N'Djamena. Population - 6892 thousand people (1998). The population density is 5.4 people per 1 sq. km. km. Urban population - 14%, rural - 86%. Area - 1284 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Emi-Kushi (3415 m), the lowest is 240 m above sea level. Main languages: local African, Arabic, French (official). Main religions: Islam, animistic beliefs. Administrative-territorial division - 14 prefectures. Currency: CFA franc = 100 centimes. National holiday: Independence Day - 11 August. National anthem: "Get up to work, people of Chad."
Nature. Most of the territory of Chad is occupied by plains and plateaus, alternating with flat depressions. At the bottom of the largest of them there is a shallow lake Chad, the area of which varies from 10.4 thousand to 26 thousand square meters. km, depending on fluctuations in the flow of the rivers that feed it (Shari and others). Sometimes a runoff is established from Chad along the El Ghazal channel to the Bodele depression. In the north of Chad, there is a massive ancient Tibesti highland with the volcano Emi-Kusi (3415 m), highest point countries. It is composed of crystalline schists, sandstones and lavas. In the east of the country, the surface is also rising. Here are the Erdi, Ennedi and Vadai plateaus, composed mainly of sandstones. The northern half of the country is part of the Sahara Desert. Sand dunes, both fixed and moving, are common here, as are other aeolian landforms. Remnant hills, or tori (the local name is kagas), are often found. The southern regions of Chad are occupied by semi-deserts and savannahs of the natural region of Sudan. Swamps occupy large areas in the south and southeast of the country. In the north of Chad, the climate is tropical, desert. The average monthly temperatures range from 15 to 35°C. The average annual rainfall does not exceed 100 mm. In the south, the climate is subequatorial. The average monthly temperatures are 26-30°C. The average annual rainfall is 1000-1400 mm. Rocky and sandy deserts predominate in the north, semi-deserts (desert savanna) in the central part. In the extreme south - a typical savannah with baobabs and a doum palm.
Population. Chad has long served as a place where contacts between the peoples of North Africa, the Sahara and Sudan, the bearers of different cultures and religions, took place. That's why ethnic composition The population of this relatively small country is distinguished by its extraordinary diversity. Here are the languages of seven groups of major language families(Nilo-Saharan, Semitic-Hamitic and Niger-Kordofan). The official language is French. Islam is widespread among the peoples of the deserts - Bedouin Arabs, Tuareg and Fulbe, engaged in nomadic cattle breeding. They raise camels and cattle. The main occupations of the Hausa are trade and agriculture. The Hausa city-states were united into a centralized state during the religious wars of the early 19th century. Wadai are skilled farmers who have made great strides in the technique of artificial irrigation. They use animal manure as fertilizer. The Kanebu are predominantly engaged in animal husbandry. Tubu lead a nomadic lifestyle in the arid eastern and northern regions. The non-Muslim population lives in the more densely populated belt of savanna woodlands. Here the largest ethnic group - the Sarah - is distinguished by dispersed settlement. Their main occupations are fishing and farming. In the same areas, Hakka farmers are equally dispersed. After the arrival of high-yielding grain crops from the New World in Central Africa, the Hakka gradually moved over four centuries to areas with a wetter climate where they could grow these crops, displacing the indigenous hunter-gatherer population from there.
Political system. Between the early 1960s and the early 1980s, during the civil war in Chad, several constitutions were changed in the country. After the abolition in March 1979 of the basic law adopted a year earlier, Chad was left without a constitution. Hissen Habré, who assumed the presidency in June 1982, ruled the country with the help of a 30-member State Council. In the early 1980s, there were no political parties in Chad. Until that time, the main contradictions existed between the Arabized Muslims of the central and northern parts of the country and the non-Muslim population of the southern regions. After Habré ousted Goukuni Oueddei from the presidency in 1982, the main rival forces were the factions led by these sworn enemies. Habré and Oueddei are Muslims and come from northern Chad. Until 1976, they were part of the leadership of the National Liberation Front of Chad (FROLIN), which led the fight against the southerners. In 1976, Habré created his own organization - the Armed Forces of the North. In 1989, a new constitution was adopted, which provided for the creation of a parliament and the election of the president by direct vote. After the rebels seized power in the country, in 1990 the constitution was suspended. The transitional government, led by Idris Déby, one of the leaders of the coup, drafted a new constitution that created the legal basis for the formation of a multi-party democracy in Chad. In 1996, the majority of voters voted for the adoption of a new constitution, which is currently in effect. Chad maintains close ties with France and pro-French countries in Africa. France provided Chad with significant military assistance. Chad is a member of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations.
Economy. Most of the active population of Chad is concentrated in the south. Subsistence farming predominates. The development of the Chadian economy is hampered by many years of constant political instability. The formation of commodity production began only after the Second World War. The main cash crop is cotton, and its seeds and fiber are exported. Animal husbandry is also an important branch of the economy. 85% of the country's able-bodied population is employed in agriculture. In 1995, GDP was estimated at $3.3 billion, or $600 per capita. The share of agriculture, cattle breeding and fisheries accounts for about half of the GNP, the share of industry - 18%, the share of transport and services - 34%. The economic growth rate lags behind the population growth rate (about 2.6%), and the share of GNP per capita is steadily declining. The main pastoral areas are the northern and central regions of Chad. Breed mainly cattle, goats, sheep, camels, donkeys, horses. In terms of livestock, Chad ranks second among African countries(after Mali). Agriculture is widely developed in the southern regions of the country. The main food crops are millet and sorghum, but peanuts, cassava, date palm, corn and rice are also grown. Cotton production is controlled by a French company, part of its shares is owned by the government of Chad. Large livestock farms, slaughterhouses and meat-packing plants are owned by foreign capital. Developed livestock trade. The industry is poorly developed and is represented mainly by cotton ginning plants (more than 20), enterprises for processing livestock products and peanuts. Since 1967, a textile mill has been operating in Sarkh. Extraction of soda in Lake Chad has been established. In 1996, an agreement was reached between Chad and one of the international oil companies on the extraction of oil for export. Electricity for industrial needs is generated at thermal power plants running on oil. The road network is poorly developed. The total length of roads is 32 thousand km, of which approx. 1 thousand km. There is an international airport in N'Djamena, which is served by the national airline. Until the mid-1990s, Chad faced a chronic trade deficit. However, in 1995 export earnings ($226 million) exceeded import costs ($225 million). The main trading partners are France, Portugal, Germany, Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa. The share of cotton in exports is at least 50%, livestock products - 30%. Chad is part of the French franc zone and is a member of the Monetary Union of Central Africa and Cameroon. Together with four other French-speaking countries, it has a common central bank and a common currency, the CFA franc. Since the 1970s, Chad's budget has been consistently running a deficit. Until recently, a significant share of the expenditure side of the budget was military spending. After the end of the border conflict with Libya, the main expenditure item of the budget was the cost of implementing economic programs. Government spending in 1994 amounted to 222 million dollars (of which half was spent on investment in the economy), and budget revenues - 136 million dollars. France and other EU countries provide financial assistance to Chad.
Public education. Schools at Christian missions became the basis for the formation of the public school system. More than half of the adult population is illiterate. In the early 1990s, in primary schools 600 thousand children studied, and in secondary schools - 73 thousand. teaching staff in secondary schools and technical schools were French. In 1972, the University of Chad opened in N'Djamena.
Story. In the 7th-8th centuries. in the areas north and east of Lake Chad, nomadic pastoralists Zaghava appeared, who could be one of the Berber tribes. The aliens who had the best social organization, conquered the indigenous population - the legendary people of so, sedentary Negroid farmers who lived in fortified cities and did not have a centralized state. Created in the 8th century. one of the Zaghawa groups, the state of Kanem turned out to be one of the most powerful and stable state formations in central Sudan. Members of the ruling Kanema Seifuwa dynasty married So women, and as a result, from the 13th century. black rulers were on the throne of the country. The Seifuwa dynasty ruled not only Kanem, but also its successor, the state of Bornu, until 1846. After the 11th century. the rulers of Kanem converted to Islam, Kanem became the center of Muslim culture in central Sudan. Kanem reached the apogee of its power in the region of the Lake Chad basin in the 13th century. The welfare of the state directly depended on the number of slaves supplied to the slave markets of the coast of North Africa. The treasury of the rulers was also replenished by taxes from the peasantry and tribute from vassal tribes. At the end of the 14th century the weakened Seifuwa dynasty was forced to cede power to the pretenders to the throne from among the leaders of the nomadic Bulala tribe. Seifuwa moved to that part of the Kanem domain, which is located southwest of the lake. Chad, and founded the new state of Bornu there. Over the following centuries, the Bornu rulers from their capital, Ngazargama (in present-day Nigeria), repeatedly and with varying success attempted to reassert their rule over Kanem and other smaller state entities in Chad. In the 16th century on the territory of Chad, the states of Bagirmi and Vadai were formed. Their Muslim rulers profited from the trade in slaves captured in pagan tribes, and were constantly at war with each other and with Bornu. In the 1890s, Bagirmi, Wadai and Bornu, weakened by internal strife, were captured by the troops of the Sudanese conqueror Rabbah Zobeir. After the French troops defeated Rabbah in 1900, Bagirmi and Wadai became part of the colonial possessions of France. The penetration of Europeans into the territory of modern Chad dates back to 1822, when an expedition of two English explorers, Dixon Denham and Hugh Clapperton, appeared in these places. In 1870-1871, the territory of Chad was explored by the expeditions of Heinrich Barth and Gustav Nachtigal. The French spread their influence in the area from the 1890s, and in 1913 they conquered the entire territory of Chad. In 1914 Chad became a French colony. From 1946 to 1958, Chad had the status of an "overseas territory" of France, which gave it the right to representation in the French parliament and the creation of a territorial assembly. August 11, 1960 Chad was proclaimed an independent state. The leaders of the Chadian national liberation movement were Gabriel Lisette, a black West Indian who founded the Chadian Progressive Party (PPC), and François Tombalbay, a former trade union leader, the first Prime Minister and the first President of the Republic of Chad. In 1962 unrest broke out among Muslims in the northern part of the country. In 1965, an underground military-political organization, the National Liberation Front of Chad (FROLINA), was formed. In 1969, French troops were brought into the country at the request of the government of Chad to suppress anti-government armed uprisings in the north. In 1973, on the initiative of President F. Tombalbay, an Africanization campaign was launched, in which the citizens of the country had to change their Christian names to African ones, and also undergo a ritual initiation ceremony. The president himself took the African name Ngarta. In April 1975, he was killed during a military coup, and power in the country passed to General Felix Mallum. Meanwhile, in the north, the rebels continued to offer armed resistance, and in 1978 Mallum had to go to the formation of a coalition government with the participation of FROLIN leader Hissein Habré. However, the attempt to achieve national reconciliation failed: violent armed clashes broke out between supporters of Mallum and Habré. In March 1979, both resigned, in November a transitional government of national unity was formed, headed by Gukuni Oueddei. Already in March 1980, armed clashes between the forces of Habré and the troops of Oueddey resumed in the capital N'Djamena. Thousands of civilians were killed, and many more fled the country. In November 1980, at the request of Oueddey, Libyan troops arrived in Chad. The detachments of Habré were forced to retreat, after which minor clashes continued only in the east of the country. Soon the Chadian government announced plans for the unification of Libya and Chad into a single state, however, faced with harsh criticism from other members of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), President Waddey was forced to abandon this intention. After the Libyan troops were withdrawn from the territory of Chad in November 1981, their place was taken by the peacekeeping forces of the OAU. The armed struggle between the forces of the government and the rebels did not stop. Having established control over the northern regions of the country, in June 1982, the armed forces of Habré captured N'Djamena. Oueddei fled the capital, and Habré declared himself president. But the deposed president did not give up his claims to the post of head of state and in mid-1983, at the head of a three thousandth army, which Libya helped to form and arm, launched an attack on N'Djamena from the north. In August of the same year, Oueddei's troops captured Larjo and continued to move south towards the capital. France, meanwhile, sent troops and warplanes to N'Djamena to support the Habré regime. In the same year, Wheddey set up his own government in the north. With the support of French troops, by 1988, Habré managed to oust the Libyan military units from the territory of Chad. In December 1990, a Libyan-backed rebel group that declared itself the Patriotic Salvation Movement (PDS) seized power in the country. The leader of this grouping, General Idris Deby, became the President of Chad. Armed confrontation continued until 1993. Both sides agreed on a ceasefire and the creation of a transitional government headed by Deby. Democratic elections were scheduled for 1996. In these elections, Déby was elected president with 67% of the vote. In 1997, multi-party parliamentary elections were held, in which deputies were elected to the federal legislative body - the Supreme Council of the Transitional Period. Most of the deputy mandates were won by candidates from the Deby PDS party.
LITERATURE
Subbotin V.A. Colonies of France in 1870-1918. M., 1973
Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .
Synonyms:See what "CHAD" is in other dictionaries:
Chad- Chad / ... Morphemic spelling dictionary
1) drainless lake in the Center. Africa; state in Chad, as well as Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria. In one of the dialects of the Kanuri language, common on the shores of the lake, there is a large expanse of water, a lake. See also N'Djamena, Central African Republic... Geographic Encyclopedia
A (y), suggestion. about a child, into a child; m. 1. Acrid, suffocating smoke from damp firewood, unburned coal, burning fatty matter, etc. Powder h. In tobacco fumes. The fire was burning, emitting a smoky hour. Burn from the fumes. To be, to walk, as if in a child (about the state of ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Republic of Chad (Republique du Tchad), a state in the Center. Africa. 1284 thousand km². population 6.1 million (1993); the tubu, sari, bagirmi, hausa peoples; Arabs. Urban population 32% (1990). The official languages are French, Arabic. ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
CHAD, child, about child, into child, pl. no, husband. 1. Smoke, stench from unburned coal or from a burning fatty substance. Eel from the child. Kitchen chad. 2. trans. That which intoxicates makes one lose self-control (book). In the heat of passion. "Got in a daze ... ... Dictionary Ushakov
Husband. waste, carbon monoxide from something unburned, with smoke, with a stench, or without it, from which they smoke, burn out. The green child is standing in the hut. Chad hut. It's steamy, carbon monoxide, the pipe was wrapped up early. Yes, seem chastely, chadnenko, chastily chadneho. ... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
