Chad

CHAD

Information about travelling to Chad

Chad is located in Central Africa, south of Libya

Facts about Chad
Population10,111,337 (July 2008 est
CapitalN'Djamena
Time zoneUTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Central Africa, south of Libya

General info about Chad
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, and the capital experienced a significant rebel threat in early 2008.
Disease threats
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepat
Languages spoken
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
Ethnic division
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)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
4.8% (2003 est.)
Climate
tropical in south, desert in north
Resources
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Economy
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 plan to build a refinery. The nation's total oil reserves have been estimated to be 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.
Environment
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

Cities in Chad

abeche     adre     am timan     ati     beboto     beinamar     benoy     bere     biltine     bitkine     bokoro     bol     bongor     bousso     doba     dourbali     faya     fianga     goundi     guelengdeng     kelo     koumra     kyabe     lai     mao     massaguet     massakory     melfi     moissala     mongo     moundou     moussoro     ngama     oum hadjer     pala     sarh    


Airports in Chad
AbecherAEH
ZakoumaAKM
Am TimanAMC
MaoAMO
AtiATV
BokoroBKR
FayaFYT
LaiLTC
MelfiMEF
MoundouMQQ
MongoMVO
BongorOGR
BolOTC
Oum HadjerOUM
BoussoOUT
PalaPLF
SarhSRH


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