Useful information for tourists about Chad, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Chad, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Chad.

Geography of Chad

Chad is a country in central Africa. It borders on the west with Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, on the south with the Central African Republic, on the east with Sudan and Libya on the north. Landlocked.

Most The territories are occupied by plains and plateaus, which alternate with flat depressions. The northern part of the country is occupied by rocky and sandy deserts with rare 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 there are semi-deserts and savannas. In the southern and southeastern regions, large areas are occupied by swamps.

State

State structure

Chad is a presidential republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Language

Official language: French, Arabic

Of the local languages, the most common are the language of the Sara people and more than 120 local dialects (Daza, Dzhonkor, Karembo, Teda, etc.).

Religion

51% of the population are Muslims who profess Sunni Islam, 35% are Christians (the majority are Catholics), 10% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.).

Currency

International name: KFA

The CFA franc is equal to 100 centimes. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500 francs, as well as coins in 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 franc.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices, which are located everywhere. Reverse exchange is possible only upon presentation of a bank receipt for exchange for national currency.

The use of credit cards is limited only in the capital - only 2 large hotels in N'Djamena accept them for payment. Travel checks can be cashed at BIAT Bank and two other large banks in the capital. It is recommended to take checks in euros with you.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Chad

Popular hotels

Tips

Tips usually amount to 5-10% of the bill. Most bars and restaurants high level 10% is automatically added to the bill, but additional tips are not prohibited (money should be handed over personally to the waiter). Moreover, local staff often differentiate the amount of payments on the spot - if the guest looks quite wealthy, he will be given a bill at the maximum rate, but if he does not give the impression of a rich foreigner, then the tip will not be included at all (foreigners are most often automatically classified as wealthy people). In hotels, tips are most often included in the bill; in taxis, you should round the amount up or agree in advance with the taxi driver on the fare.

Office hours

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 07.00 to 13.00, on Friday from 07.00 to 10.30. On Saturdays, many large banks are open from 07.00 to 13.00.

Purchases

Shops are usually open from Tuesday to Saturday from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 16.00 to 19.30. Grocery stores are often open all week (closed on Friday and Saturday in the north). Markets in the capital are open from 07.30 until dusk; in the provinces, opening hours depend on local traditions.

Medicine

Immunization is recommended against cholera, typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, B and E (especially north and east of Lake Chad), diphtheria, rabies, tetanus, meningococcal meningitis (especially in the savannas between November and May) and typhus. The causative agents of schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis have been recorded in all freshwater bodies of the country (it is recommended to avoid swimming in local lakes and rivers). The level of HIV/AIDS is estimated at 4.8% of the country's population, but according to unofficial data, up to 16% of the country's population are carriers of this disease.

All water in the country is considered potentially contaminated and is not recommended for consumption.

Safety

On the one hand, the government is making great efforts to prevent crime and banditry, on the other hand, many areas of the country are not recommended for travel, and even around the capital the tense situation remains. It is not recommended to travel alone in the northern regions, especially at night. You should also refrain from visiting the southwestern regions of Chad, where clashes between law enforcement agencies and well-armed groups of various rebels and outright bandit groups are frequent.

Traveling around the city at night is not recommended, and the city center is considered unsafe even in the evening. In crowded areas, terrorist attacks, robberies and pickpocketing are common, and the level of violent crime has also increased. Buses and unofficial taxis are not recommended for transportation almost everywhere.

Emergency numbers

Fire service - 18.
Police - 17.

Photo and video shooting

To take photographs, you must obtain special permission from your local Ministry of Information or police office. Photographing military installations, airports and official buildings is strictly prohibited. Take a photo if necessary local resident, you should definitely ask him for permission, otherwise serious conflicts are possible even just with the camera lens open.

There is so little life in this state! Most of it is occupied by sand. And the people inhabiting it are very poor. But still, tourists still come to this place. What do they want to see here?

Chad is the poorest country in Africa

The country of Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world African continent, it is located in its northern part. The main part of the country is occupied by the Sahara Desert. - city of N'Djamena. The state is completely landlocked and borders 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 equal width - blue, yellow and red. Blue color symbolizes sky, hope and water. The color yellow represents the sun and desert in the northern part of the country. The color red symbolizes progress, unity, and the blood shed for Chad's independence. In the southwestern part of the state, the border runs directly along the famous Lake Chad.

Population

The country's population is about 10 million people, and the Republic of Chad ranks 75th in the world in terms of population. 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 French or Arabic. The average age of the country's residents is 16.9 years. The birth rate is quite high, but there are also a lot of deaths. In terms of mortality rates, the Republic of Chad is in 5th place in the world. Needless to say, it’s not the most prosperous country. The maternal mortality rate is the highest in the world.

Drinking water is practically a luxury, available to only 27% of residents. More than 80% of the population is considered unemployed. There are a huge number of people with AIDS in Chad - more than 200 thousand people. At the same time, there is practically no medicine. There are hospitals only in large cities, and the doctors are Red Cross workers, all foreigners. The republic experiences frequent civil wars, droughts and famines. 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 states are heterogeneous. In the north, the country of Chad consists of sandy and rocky deserts, where oases with rather sparse flora and fauna are very rare. The average temperature here in January is +15 degrees, and in the summer, in July - +30 degrees. Maximum temperatures rise to +56 degrees. In this part, during the dry season, a dry hot wind - harmattan - often blows, bringing drought and locusts. In the north it may not rain for years, but it can rain and cause flooding. In the south, the Republic of Chad is represented by semi-deserts and savannas. In winter, the average air temperature here is +22 degrees, in summer - +30-35 degrees. Light rains abruptly turn into heavy downpours, and during the monsoon period their amount becomes even greater. But in the south, precipitation is more evenly distributed.

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 practically fresh, although usually in deserts, in lakes without drainage, the water is salty. It is also noteworthy that the water level in the lake changes 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 2.5 times. This 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 residents of the country profess Islam, about 40% are Christians. 28% of Chad's population 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 separately and do not make contact with others. Within the tribes there are strict laws of patriarchy. They live in tents made of thick 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. Special attention devoted to raising children, especially boys. They deeply respect the traditions of their ancestors and the worship of pagan gods.

1. The fresh water of Lake Chad is not suitable for use. Although there is a huge amount of it in the reservoir and thanks to it good harvests are obtained, it is all polluted. The water cannot be used for drinking purposes. It’s especially unusual for tourists that they won’t be able to use it at home either. You should always have bottled water.
2. To start photographing anything in the country, you need to obtain permission in advance from the Ministry of Information or the police department. It will indicate exactly what is allowed to appear on camera. To photograph a local resident, you need to ask his permission.
3. Women of this African republic still artificially change the shape of their bodies with the help of metal objects. For example, they are inserted into the lips.
4. On state banknotes except politicians The most beautiful girl in Chad, Bitta Kellu, is also depicted. There are no other countries like this in the world.
5. There was a conflict between Chad and Libya. This is the only war that received the name of the Toyota car brand. Chad won it, thanks to the SUVs of this brand.
6. Looking directly into the eyes of your interlocutor is considered indecent.
7. 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 infection. Only the capital of the Republic of Chad and some others big cities have medical institutions, 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, Cameroon or Sudan. It is noteworthy that 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, plant and animal world. For all this, they are ready to travel thousands of kilometers.

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Africa Tur → Reference materials → WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA → Population and culture of Chad

Population and culture of Chad

In a significant part of the territory - in the desert areas of the northern half of the country - live the Tubu and Arabs, in the southern part - the Hausa people (Hausa, Mubu, Soko Ro, Masa, etc.). In the river valley Shari lives with Bagirmi and Sara. Other peoples of the Adamau-Eastern linguistic subgroup - Chamba, Moba - also live in Chad. tama, dago, etc.

Tubu, living in a huge area occupying the Tibesti region. Erdi and Ennedi unite two groups - Teda and Daza (Tubu means “people of Tu”, “Tu” is the local name for Tibesti). They speak the Sahrawi language. The Tubu are mainly pastoralists and lead a nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle. Although they live near pastures most of the year, they traditionally stick to the area of ​​their original settlement. Tubu - nomads live in portable huts consisting of a wooden frame to which mats made of doum palm leaves are tied. Among sedentary Tubu, round huts predominate. The cylindrical part of the hut is often made from compacted earth.

Along the banks of the middle reaches of Logone, in the vicinity of Bongor, live the sedentary Masa people. It is believed that the Masa came to the Logone Valley from the east back in the 15th century, conquering the state of Sao, which arose here in the early Middle Ages, and mixed with local tribes. The Masa live in round huts, to the walls of which they sometimes attach small woody growths, symbolizing women's breasts and serving as a guarantee that many children will be born in the hut. They usually sleep on a clay bed, under which there is a fireplace with smoldering coals.

In the south of the country, along the banks of the Bahr Sara and Shari rivers, near the city of Sarkh (formerly Fort Archambault), live the Sara agricultural tribes, which are very tall and speak the languages ​​of the Sharinil group of the Nilo-Saharan language family. They still have the custom of decorating themselves by deforming various parts bodies. Thus, Sara women insert wooden plates or plates (“sun du”) into their lips, reaching 20-40 cm in diameter and weighing 110 grams. When women walk in single file, carrying a heavy load on their heads, they adjust their steps to the rhythm of the swinging of their jewelry. Eating and drinking with such decorations is not an easy task. Moreover, the friction of the plates on the gums causes tooth loss. There are two explanations why women wear these plates. According to the first explanation, Sara women, as is customary in other parts of Africa, where sticks or buttons are inserted into the upper lip, do this for beauty. The second explanation is that in those years when African villages were raided by slave hunters, husbands disfigured the faces of their wives to save them from slavery: there was no demand for women with perforated lips in slave markets.

The Bagirmi peoples, close to the Sara and living on the right bank of the Shari, the Kotoko, living in the area of ​​the lower reaches of the Shari and Logone, as well as the Buduma, living along the shores of lake. Chad are hereditary fishermen. The sand dunes on the islands of the lake are inhabited, in addition to Budum, by the Kanembu and Kuri peoples. These peoples raise livestock. In coastal areas subject to annual flooding, the population is engaged in agriculture, mainly growing wheat.

In terms of religious affiliation, the country's population is heterogeneous: more than half are Muslims, inhabiting mainly the northern regions, the rest are animists; The number of Christians among the African population is small.

The most common type of dwelling in the country is the cylindrical mud hut with a conical thatched roof. Sometimes such huts have the character of pile buildings. In the Logone Valley there are shell-shaped huts that are more the work of a potter than a mason. In the northern and central regions, grain is stored in adobe barns, skillfully made in the shape of a 2.5 m high bottle. Branches protrude from the walls, which allow them to rise to the neck and, by opening the lid, drop inside. Such granaries are decorated with ornaments and are so smooth and rounded that it seems as if they were made on giant potter's wheels.

Chad's population increases annually by 1.5-2%. Its average density is very small - 3 people per 1 sq. km.

The bulk of the population lives in rural areas, with slightly more than 15% of the population living in cities. The largest cities are N'Djamena (about 300 thousand inhabitants), Sarkh (60 thousand people) and Mundu (more than 55 thousand people).

The city of N'Djamena was founded in 1900 by the head of the French military expedition, Tantilla. The capital is built up with adobe houses grouped around numerous mosques. In the central part of the city there are European-style buildings that house government and business institutions. On the outskirts of the city there are many mud huts of various types, reflecting the traditional characteristics of the tribes living here.

N'Djamena is a large commercial center for the country, where Chad's main industrial enterprises are also concentrated. The capital is the center of cultural life. In 1972, the only university in the country opened here. In N'Djamena there are research institutions and secondary technical training centers.

IN last years The country pays a lot of attention to the revival of the original national culture suppressed during the colonial period. The Chadian national dance ensemble, created in 1972, won prizes at international festivals and enjoyed deserved success during his tour in the USSR. The craftsmanship of the peoples of Chad has reached a high level of excellence. Not by chance greatest number The works of Chadian folk craftsmen received awards at an exhibition of handicrafts from French-speaking countries, held in the summer of 1972 in Paris.

CHAD
Republic of Chad, a state in Central Africa. It borders on the south with the Central African Republic, on the east on Sudan, on the north on Libya, on the west on Niger, on the southwest on 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. On August 11, 1960, Chad was declared an independent state.

Chad. The capital is N'Djamena. Population - 6892 thousand people (1998). Population density - 5.4 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 14%, rural - 86%. Area - 1284 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Emi-Kusi (3415 m), the lowest is 240 m above sea level. Main languages: local African, Arabic, French (official). Main religions: Islam, animist beliefs. Administrative division - 14 prefectures. Monetary unit: CFA franc = 100 centimes. National holiday: Independence Day - August 11. National anthem: "Rise to work, people of Chad."

Nature. Most of Chad's territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, alternating with flat depressions. At the bottom of the largest of them there is 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 feeding it (Shari et al.). Sometimes there is a flow from Chad along the El Ghazal channel into the Bodele depression. In the north of Chad lies the massive ancient Tibesti highlands with the Emi Koussi volcano (3415 m), the country's highest point. It is composed of crystalline shales, 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 falls within the Sahara Desert. Sand dunes, both fixed and moving, as well as other aeolian landforms are common here. Remnant hills, or tori (locally called kagas), are often found. The southern regions of Chad occupy semi-deserts and savannas of the natural region of Sudan. In the south and southeast of the country, large areas are occupied by swamps. In the north of Chad the climate is tropical and desert. Average monthly temperatures range from 15 to 35° C. Average annual precipitation does not exceed 100 mm. In the south the climate is subequatorial. Average monthly temperatures are 26-30° C. Average annual precipitation is 1000-1400 mm. In the north, rocky and sandy deserts predominate; in the central part, semi-deserts (desertified savanna) predominate. In the extreme south there is a typical savannah with baobab trees and doum palm.

Population. Chad has long served as a place where contacts between peoples took place North Africa, Sahara and Sudan, carriers of different cultures and religions. Therefore, the ethnic composition of the population of this relatively small country is extremely diverse. Here are the languages ​​of seven groups of major language families(Nilo-Saharan, Semitic-Hamitic and Niger-Kordofanian). Official language- French. Islam is widespread among the desert peoples - Bedouin Arabs, Tuaregs and Fulbe, who are engaged in nomadic cattle breeding. They raise camels and cattle. The main activities of the Hausa are trade and agriculture. The Hausa city-states were united into a centralized state during religious wars beginning of the 19th century The Vadai are skilled farmers who have achieved great success in artificial irrigation techniques. They use livestock manure as fertilizer. The Kanebu are primarily engaged in livestock farming. The Tuba lead a nomadic life in the arid eastern and northern regions. The non-Muslim population lives in the more densely populated savanna woodland belt. Here the largest ethnic group - the Sara - is distinguished by its dispersed settlement. Their main occupations are fishing and farming. Hakka farmers are equally dispersed in the same areas. Following the arrival of high-yield grain crops from the New World in central Africa, the Hakka gradually moved over four centuries to areas with more humid climates where they could grow these crops, displacing the indigenous hunter-gatherer populations.

Political system. Between the early 1960s and the early 1980s, when Chad Civil War, the country has changed several constitutions. After the repeal in March 1979 of the basic law adopted a year earlier, Chad was left without a constitution. Hissène Habré, who assumed the presidency in June 1982, governed the country with the help of a 30-member Council of State. In the early 1980s, there were no political parties. Until this 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 removed Goukouni Oueddei from the presidency in 1982, the main rival forces became 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 (FROLINA), which fought 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, the constitution was suspended in 1990. The transitional government led by Idriss 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 supported the adoption of a new constitution, which is currently in force. Chad maintains close ties with France and pro-French African countries. France provided Chad with significant military assistance. Chad is a member of the Organization of African Unity and the UN.
Economy. The majority of Chad's self-employed population is concentrated in the south. Subsistence farming predominates. Chad's economic development has been hampered by years of constant political instability. The emergence of commodity production began only after the Second World War. The main commercial crop is cotton; its seeds and fiber are exported. Livestock farming is also an important sector of the economy. 85% of the country's working population is employed in agriculture. In 1995, GDP was estimated at $3.3 billion, or $600 per capita. Agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing account for about half of GNP, industry - 18%, transport and services - 34%. The rate of economic growth lags behind the rate of population growth (approx. 2.6%), and the share of GNP per capita is steadily declining. The main pastoral areas are the northern and central regions of Chad. Mainly cattle, goats, sheep, camels, donkeys, and horses are bred. In terms of livestock size, 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; peanuts, cassava, date palm, corn and rice are also grown. Cotton production is controlled by a French company, part of its shares belongs to the Chadian government. Large livestock farms, slaughterhouses and meat-packing plants are owned by foreign capital. Trade in live cattle is developed. Industry is poorly developed and is represented mainly by cotton gin plants (more than 20), enterprises for processing livestock products and peanuts. A textile mill has been operating in Sarkh since 1967. Soda production has been established in Lake Chad. In 1996, an agreement was reached between Chad and one of the international oil companies to produce oil for export. Electricity for industrial needs is generated at thermal power plants running on oil. The road network is poorly developed. total length 32 thousand km of roads, 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 consistently run deficits. Until recently, a significant share of the budget expenditures was made up of military expenditures. After graduation border conflict with Libya, the main budget item was the cost of implementing economic programs. Government spending in 1994 amounted to $222 million (half of which was spent on investment in the economy), and budget revenues- $136 million. France and other EU countries provide financial assistance to Chad.
Public education. Schools at Christian missions became the basis for the formation of the system public schools. More than half of the adult population is illiterate. In the early 1990s in primary schools 600 thousand children studied, and 73 thousand in secondary schools. Most of them teaching staff in secondary schools and technical schools the population was 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 Zaghawa appeared, who could have been one of the Bereber tribes. Aliens who had the best social organization, conquered the indigenous population - the legendary people of sedentary Negroid farmers who lived in fortified cities and did not have 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 entities in central Sudan. Members of the ruling dynasty of Kanema Seifuwa married women from, and as a result, from the 13th century. there were black rulers on the throne of the country. The Seyfuwa dynasty ruled not only Kanem, but also its successor - the state of Bornu until 1846. After in the 11th century. the rulers of Kanem converted to Islam, Kanem became the center Muslim culture central Sudan. Kanem reached the apogee of his power in the Lake Chad basin area in the 13th century. The welfare of the state directly depended on the number of slaves supplied to the slave markets of the North African coast. 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 Seyfuwa dynasty was forced to cede power to contenders for the throne from among the leaders of the nomadic Bulala tribe. Seyfuwa moved to that part of Kanem's possessions, which is located southwest of the lake. Chad, and founded a new state there, Bornu. Over the following centuries, the Bornu rulers from their capital Ngazargama (in modern Nigeria) made repeated attempts, with varying degrees of success, to restore their authority over Kanem and other smaller cities. state entities in Chad. In the 16th century The states of Bagirmi and Wadai were formed on the territory of Chad. Their Muslim rulers profited from the trade in slaves captured from pagan tribes, and constantly fought among themselves and with Bornu. In the 1890s, weakened by internal strife, Bagirmi, Wadai and Bornu were captured by the troops of the Sudanese conqueror Rabbah Zobeir. After French troops defeated Rabbah in 1900, Bagirmi and Wadai became part of the French colonial possessions. 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 Nachtigall. The French expanded their influence in the area from the 1890s, and in 1913 they conquered all of Chad. In 1914 Chad became a colony of France. 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. On August 11, 1960, Chad was declared an independent state. The leaders of the Chadian national liberation movement were Gabriel Lisette, a black West Indian who founded the Progressive Party of Chad (PPC), and François Tombalbaye, a former trade union leader, the first prime minister and first president of the Republic of Chad. In 1962, unrest began among Muslims in the northern part of the country. In 1965, the underground military-political organization Front for the National Liberation of Chad (FROLINA) was formed. In 1969, to suppress anti-government armed protests in the north, at the request of the Chadian government, French troops were brought into the country. In 1973, on the initiative of President F. Tombalbaya, an Africanization campaign was launched, within the framework of which citizens of the country had to change their Christian names to African ones, as well as undergo a ritual initiation rite. 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 put up armed resistance, and in 1978 Mallum had to form a coalition government with the participation of FROLINA leader Hissène Habré. However, the attempt to achieve national reconciliation failed: violent armed clashes began between supporters of Mallum and Habré. In March 1979, both resigned, and in November a transitional government of national unity was formed, headed by Goukouni Oueddei. Already in March 1980, armed clashes between Habré's forces and Oueddey's troops resumed in the capital N'Djamena. Thousands of civilians have died and many more have fled the country. In November 1980, at the request of Weddey, Libyan troops arrived in Chad. Habré's troops were forced to retreat, after which minor clashes continued only in the east of the country. Soon the Chadian government unveiled plans to unite Libya and Chad into unified state However, faced with harsh criticism from other members of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), President Weddey was forced to abandon this intention. After Libyan troops were withdrawn from Chadian territory in November 1981, their place was taken by OAU peacekeeping forces. The armed struggle between government forces and the rebels did not stop. Having established control over the northern regions of the country, in June 1982 Habré's armed forces captured N'Djamena. Weddey fled the capital, and Habré declared himself president. But the ousted president did not give up his claims to the post of head of state and in mid-1983, at the head of an army of three thousand, which Libya helped to form and arm, he launched an attack on N'Djamena from the north. In August of the same year, Weddey's troops captured Largeau and continued to move south towards the capital. France, meanwhile, sent troops to N'Djamena and combat aircraft to support Habré mode. In the same year, Weddey created his own government in the north. With the support of French troops, by 1988 Habré managed to oust Libyan military units from Chadian territory. In December 1990, a Libyan-backed rebel group that declared itself the Patriotic Salvation Movement (PSM) seized power in the country. The leader of this group, General Idriss Deby, became the President of Chad. The armed confrontation continued until 1993. Both sides agreed on a ceasefire and the creation of a transitional government led by Deby. Democratic elections were planned 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. The majority of parliamentary seats were won by candidates from Deby's PDS party.
LITERATURE
Subbotin V.A. Colonies of France in 1870-1918. M., 1973

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

Synonyms:

See what "CHAD" is in other dictionaries:

Chad- chad/… Morphemic-spelling dictionary

1) a closed 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... Geographical encyclopedia

A (y), sentence about the child, in the child; m. 1. Acrid, suffocating smoke from damp wood, unburnt coal, burning fatty substances, etc. Powder part. In tobacco smoke. The fire was burning, emitting a smoky hue. Burn from the smoke. To be, to walk as if in a daze (about the state... encyclopedic Dictionary