Political Overview
Chad gained independence from France on August 11, 1960, but its early years were marked by authoritarian rule, coups, and civil wars that lasted through the 1970s and 1980s before a semblance of stability returned in 1990 under President Idriss Déby Itno. The country operates under a presidential republic framework, with executive power concentrated in the hands of the president, a bicameral legislature comprising the National Assembly and the Senate, and a judiciary nominally independent but often influenced by the executive branch. Despite a 1996 constitution and periodic elections, Chad’s polls have frequently been criticized by observers for irregularities, limited political pluralism, and constraints on civil liberties, leading to continued frustrations among opposition parties and civil society.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
Chad’s population includes major ethnic groups such as the Sara in the south, various Arab-speaking communities in the center and north, Toubou and Zaghawa nomads in the Sahara, and smaller groups like the Kanembu and Fulani, together fostering a rich mosaic of languages French and Arabic as official, alongside Fula, Sara, and over a hundred local tongues and religious practices that blend Islam, Christianity, and indigenous rites. The country is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites—ruins of Ouara, metallurgical site of Begon II, rock art of Ennedi and Tibesti and boasts a cultural landscape shaped by traditional festivals, artisan crafts, and age-old rituals such as the Chébé hair-care practice among the Bassara Arab tribe, which underscores communal bonds and artistic expression. Contemporary initiatives like the UNESCO-backed Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad (BIOPALT) project aim to preserve both natural and cultural resources around Lake Chad, highlighting the interdependence of environment and heritage in Chadian identity.
Geographical Landscape and Climate
Spanning approximately 1.284 million square kilometers, Chad’s terrain is dominated by a gently sloping basin that descends toward Lake Chad in the west, bordered by the Tibesti Mountains in the north, the Ennedi Plateau in the northeast, and the Mandara Mountains along the Cameroon border. The country encompasses four bioclimatic zones: the hyper-arid Saharan north (with under 200 mm of annual rainfall), the Sahelian belt (200–600 mm), the sub-Sahelian zone, and the Sudanian savannah in the south (up to 1,200 mm), resulting in stark contrasts in vegetation, land use, and settlement patterns. Chad experiences a long dry season from October to April and a rainy season peaking between June and September in central regions, while southern areas see heavier monsoon-style rains, supporting agriculture along the Chari and Logone rivers, which feed Lake Chad the country’s lifeline amid accelerating desertification.
