INDEPENDENT ISLAMIC STATES

Chad

Official name: Republic of Chad (TD)

Capital: N'Djamena- Encemine

Important Cities: Moundou, Sarh, Abeche.
Administrative Divisions: 14 divisions; Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Area: 1,284,000 km²

Population: 15,946,800 People

Number of People Per Km2: 4.3 People

Population Growth Rate: 2.93

Average Human Lifespan: 47 years

Ethnicity: Muslims (Arab, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa and Maba); non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa).
Language: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in the north), more than 100 languages and dialects.

Religion: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, local beliefs (animism) 25%.
Geography: Tropical climate in the south, desert in the north. There are wide, dry plains in the centre, deserts in the north, mountains in the northwest and plains in the south. Vegetation follows the rainfall. Since the northern region is desert, it does not allow plants to grow. In the central part, savannas and steppe vegetation are encountered, decreasing as you move northwards. The south of the country is favourable for the growth of forests and grasses and is covered with heathland, grasslands and evergreen sparse trees, and in this region some African animals and various birds are seen. Agricultural land is also located in the south and accounts for only 2.5 per cent of the total area. One-sixth of the country is covered by forest and one-third by meadows.

Mode of Government: Presidential system.
History: As a French colony in the 20th century, the country encouraged the production of ketene. The first president of the country, which became independent on 11 August 1960, was François Tombalbaye, leader of the PPT, the Chadian Progressive Party. Two years later, Muslims, unhappy with the one-party regime, revolted and a civil war broke out in the country. Dictator Tombalbaye was deposed and killed in 1975. In 1979, the country was destabilised again when rebels seized the capital. During this period, the French presence in the country was jeopardised, and in addition, the Libyan army attempted to invade Chad, leading to the Libyan-Chadian war.  Although the election of the French-backed Hissène Habré and the expulsion of the Libyan army were achieved, at least 40,000 people were massacred under Habre's dictatorship. Habre's general Idris Debi overthrew the dictator in 1990.

2001, 2005 ve 2006 yıllarında düzenlenen başkanlık seçimlerini kazanan Debi ülkenin tekrar İç savaşa sürüklenmesine engel olamamıştır. United Nations etnik şiddetin gittikçe arttığı ülkede Darfur‘da gerçekleşen genocide benzer olayların yaşanabileceğine dikkat çekmiştir. Sudan destekli Birleşik Değişim Cephesi gerillaları 1 February 2008 günü Massaguet bölgesinde İdris Debi’ye bağlı kuvvetlere üstünlük sağlayarak 2 Şubat 2008 günü başkent N'Djamena‘ya girmiş, USA ve France gibi Batı ülkeleri büyükelçiliklerinin tahliye hazırlıklarına başlamışlardır. Ülkenin yıllardır içinde bulun­duğu siyasî istikrarsızlık ve silâhlı çatış­malar da ekonomik kalkınmayı olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir.

Internal Problems: The political instability and armed conflicts that the country has been in for years have a negative impact on economic development.

Islamism in the Country: 50 per cent of the population is Muslim.

Economy: Oil, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Currency: African Franc (XAF)

Foreign Trade: Exports: 4.342 milyon $ (2006)
Export Products:Pamuk, tekstil, büyükbaş hayvan.
Export Partners: ABD %78.1, Çin %9.9, Tayvan %4.1 (2005)
Imports: 823.1 milyon $ (2006)
Import Products: Makine ve ulaşım araçları, endüstri malları, petrol ürünleri, gıda maddeleri, tekstil ürünleri.
Import Partners: Fransa %21.2, Kamerun %15.5, ABD %12.1, Belçika %6.8, Portekiz %4.6, Suudi Arabistan %4.3, Hollanda %4.1 (2005)

Industry: Cotton textiles, meat products, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, building materials
Industry growth rate: 5%
Energy: Electricity production: 94 million kWh (2004)
Electricity consumption: 87.42 million kWh (2004)
Transport: Roads: 33,400 km; Waterways: 2,000 km (Chari and Legone rivers); Airports: 52

Education: The literacy rate is 47%. Education, which is completely organised according to the French system, is quite backward as in other fields. In the country where higher education opportunities are extremely limited, there is only one university, which started to accept students in 1972, and a few vocational colleges established in some cities before the opening of this university, aiming to train staff in various subjects. In addition to these, there are six research institutes, four of which are on Islamic subjects, three libraries, one archive, one documentation centre and many cultural centres operating in the fields of education, culture and sports. Library services are very limited in provincial cities. The National Museum, the only museum of Chad, was established in 1963.

National Holiday: Independence Day:, 11 August (1960)
Legal system: French civil law and Chadian customary law are taken as basis.
International Organisations and Institutions of which it is a Member: ACCT, ACP (African - Caribbean - Pacific Countries), AfDB (African Development Bank), BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation).