Children's resources. Geography of the Republic of Chad: relief, climate, resources, population. Flora and fauna of Chad

Republic of Chad, a state in Central Africa. Capital N'Djamena (700 thousand people 2002). Territory 1.284 million sq. km. Administrative division 14 prefectures. Population 9.54 million people (2004). Official language French and Arabic. Religion Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. Currency unit CFA franc. National holiday August 11 Independence Day (1960). Chad has been a member of the UN since 1960, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement, the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECEAC) since 1983, the Economic and the Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) since 1999, the Community of Sahel and Saharan States since 1997.

Pre-colonial period. Archaeological finds indicate that the territory of modern Chad was inhabited ca. 6 thousand years ago

In the 5th century 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 ceramics production developed. In the 7th-8th centuries. n. e. Zaghawa nomadic pastoralists came to the northeastern regions 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 heyday in the 13th century, largely due to the active slave trade that it conducted with countries North Africa. Infighting between numerous claimants to the throne weakened Kanem and led to its collapse in the end. 14th century

In the end 15th century in one of the former provinces of Kanem, his ruling dynasty created the state of Bornu with its capital Ngazargama. In the 16th century On the territory of Chad, the states of Bagirmi and Wadai also formed, which constantly waged wars among themselves and with Bornu. In the 1890s, weakened by internal strife, Bagirmi, Bornu and Wadai were captured by the troops of the ruler Rabbah Khubair.

Colonial period. The first Europeans were English explorers D. Denham and H. Clapperton. The penetration of the French began in the 1890s. After the defeat of the Rabbaha state 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 in Fort Lamy. A system of governance 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 forced introduction of cotton into the economy (1925), Chad turned into a raw material appendage of the metropolis. On plantations and community service forced labor was widely used.

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 “Democratic Union of Chad” and “Progressive Party of Chad” (PPCH) local section of the Democratic Rally of Africa (DOA). The HRCP expressed the interests of the Christian minority in the southern regions of the country. One of its leaders was trade union leader François Tombalbaye. In November 1958, Chad was declared an autonomous republic within the French Community. Elections to the Legislative Assembly (May 31, 1959) brought a landslide victory for the HRCP. On August 11, 1960, the independent Republic of Chad was proclaimed.

Period of independence. The head of the first government was F. Tombalbai, who was elected chairman of the Human Rights Council in September 1960. The constitution adopted on November 28, 1960 established a 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 began in the north of the country among Muslims dissatisfied with government policies. The representative of their interests was the underground military-political organization “Front for the National Liberation of Chad” (FROLINA), created in 1965. Anti-government protests of Muslims were suppressed with the help of French troops in 1969. A new wave of protest was caused by a campaign of forced Africanization of the country’s population (replacing Christian names with African ones). , the introduction of a ritual initiation rite, etc.), started by the government in 1973. In April 1975, as a result of a military coup, President F. Tombalbaye 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 FROLINA leader Hissène Habré, were unsuccessful. In November 1979, a transitional government was formed headed by the head of the FROLINA armed forces, Goukouni Oueddey.

In March 1980, armed clashes between the forces of H. Habré and G. Weddey 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 on the part of France and Libya (the latter’s troops were brought into the country at the request of the government of G. Weddey). Economic situation in Chad it also worsened as a result of severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Thanks to the intervention of the OAU, Libyan troops left Chad on November 16, 1981. However, clashes between government troops and rebels did not stop. In 1982, H. Habré occupied the city of N'Djamena (the name of the capital since 1973), and G. Oueddei created his own government in the north of the country.

On December 1, 1990, power was seized by General Idriss Deby, a native of the Zaghawa nationality (leader of the Patriotic Salvation Front, formed in March of the same year in Sudan). In April 1991, on the basis of this organization, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (PAS) party was created. On 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 multi-party elections were held, 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 internal political situation in the country, the transition period was extended for another year. In January 1996, in Gabon, a declaration on the principles of internal settlement was signed between representatives of the Chadian authorities and the opposition. After a referendum, in which 3.5 million Chadian citizens participated, a new constitution was adopted on March 31, 1996.

The 1996 presidential elections were held on a multi-party basis and took place in two rounds. I. Deby was elected president with 69% of the votes. Elections to the National Assembly (November 1996) brought victory to the PDS. In economic policy, the government relied on the further development of oil fields, which began in the end. 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 shares) and Chevron (25% of shares), as well as the Malaysian company Petronas." To the beginning 1998 34 state enterprises were privatized (the privatization program was adopted in 1992). In order to control the management of oil revenues, the Chadian parliament in 1999 adopted a law creating a special board consisting of 9 members. Chad's economy benefited from the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994; economic growth in 1997 exceeded 4.1%.

In the presidential elections on May 20, 2001, I. Debi (PDS candidate) won, receiving 63.17% of the votes. According to the new electoral law of 2001, the number of deputy seats in the National Assembly was increased from 125 to 155. 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 1,050-km Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline was put into operation in October 2003, the country became an oil exporter (including to the United States).

The situation in the border areas of Chad is being destabilized by the armed conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur. In May 2005, in some camps for Darfur refugees, bloody clashes between refugees and UN personnel occurred (their reason was an attempt to stop the profiteering 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 Chadian government's additional costs associated with the continued influx of refugees from Sudanese Darfur resulted in non-payments wages. They caused a strike of civil servants, which lasted from the end. 2004 to early 2005. In January, mass strikes also took place in educational institutions in Chad for the same reason. In February 2005, Prime Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat resigned and Agriculture Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji was appointed head of government. The new government named the fight against poverty and improvement of the country's governance system as its main domestic policy priorities. It was also announced the intention to allocate in 2005 from oil revenues an additional 400 million CFA francs for the social sector and 600 million for the development of the education sector.

On May 16, 2004, a group of military personnel attempted a coup in the country. The reason for the uprising of the rebels, who came from the Zaghawa people, was their dissatisfaction with the policies of I. Debi in the Darfur conflict. As a result of 48-hour 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 did not intend to run in the 2006 presidential elections. 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 still has a significant amount of weapons, which also come from neighboring Sudanese Darfur. Government initiatives to combat crime have not produced lasting results. The new government, formed in July 2004, established the Ministry of Public Security.

The main financial donor is France. Assistance is also provided by the European Union, Japan, Arab states,

Davidson B. New discovery of ancient Africa. M., "Publishing House of Oriental Literature", 1962
Mirimanov V.B. Africa. Art. M., “Art”, 1967
Sagoyan L.Yu. Republic of Chad. Directory. M., “Oriental Literature”, 1993
Decalo S. Historical Dictionary of Chad. 3rd Edn. Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1997
Encyclopedia of African Peoples. L., 2000
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2003

Find " CHAD" on

, Nigeria and Niger; capital N'Djamena (formerly Port Lamy).

political system - presidential republic;

population 5064 thousand (1990), Bagirmi, Zaghawa, Tubu, Hausa, Arabs, etc.; languages: French, Arabic (both official), more than 100 African dialects, 50% of the population recognizes local traditional beliefs, 40% Islam, most of the rest are Christians.

1. Recent history

Until the nineteenth century, the states of Kanem-Bornu, Wadai and others existed on the territory of Chad. IN late XIX- early 20th century became a colony of France. Independence from France was gained in the city, a military coup took place in the city, the government went into exile through the brutal opposition of the Chadian National Liberation Front, which was supported by Libya. Opposition continued between units supported by Libya, on the one hand, and France, on the other, in Diplomatic relations with Libya were fully restored in . The new Constitution was adopted in 1990.

2. Religion

The main religions in Chad are Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. 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., fetishism is especially developed).

3. National flag

Adopted November 6, 1959. This is a rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size in blue, yellow and red (from left to right). It is similar to the flag of Romania, although the blue of the Chadian flag is darker. Aspect ratio 2:3.

4. Relief

Most of the territory is occupied by plains and plateaus, which alternate with flat depressions. Northern part The country's territory is covered with rocky and sandy deserts with a few oases. In the northwest is the Tibesti Highlands with the highest point of the country - the Emi-Kusi volcano (3415 m). In the south there are semi-deserts and savannas. In the southern and southeastern regions large areas cover the swamps. Almost lifeless, sun-scorched slopes of the highlands are composed of metamorphic rocks of the Precambrian basement, highly dissected volcanic cones, gorges and temporary watercourses. The highest point of the country is the dormant volcano Emi-Kusi (3415 m), which is located in the northern part of the highlands. At its top there is a crater with a diameter of 15 km and a depth of about 700 m, with dry lake at the bottom. In the western part of the highlands rises several active volcanoes, the highest of which is Tuside (3265 m), eruptions occur quite regularly. Intermountain regions abound with salt marshes and rocky deserts, among which you can find many tectonic depressions (Shiede, Ain Galakka, Tekro, Egri, Brulku, etc.), covered with the same salt marshes. This is also where the most low point countries - Jurab depression (160 m). In the north-eastern part of Chad, the Erdi (1115 m) and Ennedi (1450 m) plateaus rise, in the center is the Vadai massif with Mount Gera (1790 m), and in the east is the Ouaddan mountainous area (up to 1340 m). Rare human settlements here are usually represented by nomadic sites, and plant and animal world s mostly poor.

5. Minerals

Aluminum, beryl, bauxite, tungsten, clay, iron, gold, limestone, kaolin (clay), caustic soda, copper, petroleum, tin, table salt, natural gas and uranium.

6. Water

A year in the country is not enough. Almost all of them, except the Shar and Logon rivers, are dry riverbeds - problems that fill with water only during the rainy season. A dense network of rivers (Batha, Logon, Mayo-Kebi, Mber, Shar, etc.) is characteristic of southern regions, there are no rivers in the northern regions. There are navigable rivers Shar (the main waterway of the country) and Logon. Large lakes- Ira, Fitr and freshwater island. Chad (4th largest in Africa). During the dry period of the year (October-July), the harmattan blows in the northern regions - a hot northeast wind, bringing a lot of dust and sharply impairing visibility. Lake Chad is the largest body of water in Central Africa and the only permanent source fresh water for the whole country. At one time, the area of the water surface was about 25,000 square meters. km, however, due to droughts, they regularly strike this region, as well as due to the colossal water intake for the needs of the population, its area has decreased by almost 5 times over the past 10 years (although regular rises in water levels and its almost complete disappearance were noted by scientists less than 8 times in the last millennium). A series of dense forests stretches around the lake, and to the south and southeast there is a strip of marshy riverine areas that serve as a refuge for 120 species of fish and 200 species of birds.

7. Agriculture

The main sector of the economy, providing up to 70% of foreign exchange earnings. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 32.4%, 80% of the population works in it (2004). 2.86% of land is cultivated (2001). The main export crops are cotton and peanuts. Pulses, sesame (sesame), corn, mango, cassava, vegetables, millet, wheat, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, taro, dates and yams are also grown. Gum arabic (acacia resin) is produced - a raw material for the food, textile and pharmaceutical industries. Livestock farming (breeding camels, goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) is traditional occupation 40% of the population. Natural pastures cover an area of about 49 million hectares. Chad ranks first in Central Africa in terms of livestock population. Frequent droughts, locust infestations and tsetse flies cause damage to agriculture. Fisheries are developing, with annual catches of fish (carp, perch, catfish, etc.). It is about 90 thousand tons.

8. Industry

Share in GDP - 18.8% (2004). The mining industry is developing: the extraction of oil, caustic salt (tron), gold, limestone and clay. Since 1993, the Doba oil field has been developed, producing about 225 thousand barrels of oil per day (it is estimated that oil reserves will last for 25-30 years). The manufacturing industry is represented mainly by enterprises processing agricultural products (cotton gin factories, sugar refineries, oil mills, flour mills, meat processing plants, breweries, tobacco factory). The textile, chemical industries (2 perfume factories and an enterprise for the production of plastic shoes), metalworking, manufacturing building materials, there is a bicycle assembly plant. Handicraft production, including agricultural implements, has been developed.

9. Transport

Development problem is acute transport network and cargo transportation. Railways no, the main mode of transport is automobile. Most of The roads are suitable for use only during the dry season (October-July) and require major repairs. Length highways is about 40 thousand km (412 km of paved roads) as of 1999. The European Union provides assistance in the construction of highways. In rural areas, camels and donkeys are used for transportation. The length of the waterways is 2 thousand km (2003). There are 50 airports and runways (7 of them have hard surfaces) (2004). The capital has an international airport that serves flights to neighboring African countries and France. Since 2003, the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline (1050 km) has been operating.

10. Membership in international organizations

Member of the UN since 1960, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement, the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECEAC) since 1983 year, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) since 1999, the Community of Sahel and Saharan States since 1997.

Sources

O

The Republic of Chad is located in the north-central part of the African continent between 8 - 24° north latitude and 14 - 24° east longitude. It borders on Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, and Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger to the west.

The country's area is 1,284 thousand square kilometers, ranking 20th in the world in terms of territory. The distance from the extreme western to the extreme eastern point is 1150 km, and from the northern to the southern - 1700 km. Chad is the most remote state in Africa from the oceans and seas and belongs to the Sahel zone.

The name of this state was given by Lake Chad, located on its territory (“Chad” in the language of one of the local nationalities - Kanuri means “big water”, “space of water”).

Most of the country's territory is a flat plain, which has absolute elevations of 250-300 m in the west (Bodele depression, 180 m; Zhurab, 155 m) and 350-400 m or more in the north, east and south. The water level of Lake Chad has an absolute level of 240 m, thanks to the Erg Kanem dune dam.

The relief of Kanem, Aegean, Toro and Zhurab is mainly composed of dunes up to 7 km long. In Kanem the dunes are fixed by vegetation, while in the Aegean and Zhurab large areas are occupied by mobile dunes.

The northern and northeastern boundaries of the depression (Borku and Ennedi) have a stepped relief in eroded sandstones.

In the northwest, the Tibesti mountainous area consists of an alternation of high ridges of volcanic origin (Emi-Kusi, 3415 m; Tuside, 3315 m) and extensive plateaus (Tarso-Ton, 2625 m; Tarso-Voon, 2420 m). Tibesti is a huge uplift of ancient crystalline rocks overlain by sandstones. The highest altitude is Mount Emi-Kousi (3415 m), located in the southern part of the highlands, which is also the highest point of the entire Sahara; its top is a huge crater about 13 km across and 300 m deep. Hot springs and the release of gases on the slopes indicate recent volcanic activity. The Tibesti landscape is called "black" due to the predominant dark color of the volcanoes.

The Lake Chad basin is bordered in the north by the Tibesti Highlands, in the northeast by the Ennedi Plateau, in the east by the Waddai Massif, in the south by the Central African Massif, and in the southeast by the Adamawa and Mandara massifs. His total area 2400 thousand sq. km. The Lake Chad basin contains the Bodele, Faya, Manga, Kanem, Bongor, Dobba and Doseo depressions.

The eastern slope of the Chad Basin gradually rises and reaches the Waddai massif.

The southeastern part of Chad is occupied by the Waddai massif with numerous island mountains, average height which; 100-500 m, and the highest points are Mount Niere and Maraon. (1320 m).

In the Hera massif highest point– Abu Telfan ridge (Mount Gedi, 1508 m). The southern part of the country consists of low sandy-clayey plateaus (Koro) and flood plains. The absolute elevation of these plateaus is 500-600 m. The island mountains in this zone suddenly turn into the Yade massif (Lai ridge).

The flat areas of Shari and Logon have a gentle slope towards Lake Chad.

The Republic of Chad is located north of the equator in the tropical zone. Its climate is continental, in the north it is tropical desert, in the south it is equatorial-monsoon.

In Chad, as in other countries of the Sahara zone, there is one rainy and one dry season. The duration of the rainy season increases as you move south. The seasons change with thunderstorms and storms caused by the collision of hot, dry air masses from the northeast and humid southwest. In the southern regions such thunderstorms are accompanied by heavy downpours, and in the northern regions they are most often accompanied by sandstorms.

The climate of Chad is characterized by periodic changes from tropical trade winds to equatorial air. During the winter months, when the sun moves to the southern hemisphere, the trade wind (harmattan) dominates here. In the southern regions, the direction of air masses often changes from northeast to east. The dryness of the air gradually increases, and precipitation stops. In summer, humid air, called the summer southwest monsoon, penetrates into Chad from the equatorial zone. It brings rainy weather from the Gulf of Guinea and slightly reduces the air temperature before the onset of the monsoon.

In summer, the southwest monsoon pushes the harmattan to the north and a struggle between the harmattan and the monsoon occurs, manifested in changing weather and the dominance of variable winds. The monsoon blows calmly in the morning and gives way to harmattan in the afternoon. Severe storms (tornadoes) with thunderstorms often occur. Typically, a tornado moves in the direction of the harmattan, that is, to the west or northwest. With the onset of the rainy season, thunderstorms become rare. In the north of the country, tornadoes more often bring sandstorms rather than precipitation.

In the Sahara Desert, precipitation is very rare and irregular. In the city of Faya (Largeau), an average of 16 mm of precipitation falls and there is an average of 3-4 rainy days per year. Average monthly temperature here it is 44.4°C, but the daily amplitude is quite large and amounts to 20°C. The desert zone is characterized by strong winds, lasting a total of up to 52 days a year.

South of this zone climatic conditions less severe. In Abéché, for example, 51 rainy days were recorded, in N'Djamena - 63.6, in Moundou - 93.3. Annual precipitation increases from north to south from 50 mm to 1200 mm per year.

The dry (winter) season here lasts 6-7 months from October-November to April-May, the rainy season lasts from 2 to 4 months. The daily temperature range in this zone is 10°C.

The main areas of the country are used as follows: 3% of the land is allocated for arable land, 36% is occupied by pastures, and 26% is occupied by forests; the area of rivers and lakes occupies 1.9% of the total area of the country.

Pre-colonial period. Archaeological finds indicate that the territory of modern Chad was inhabited ca. 6 thousand years ago

In the 5th century 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 ceramics production developed. In the 7th-8th centuries. n. e. Zaghawa nomadic pastoralists came to the northeastern regions 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 heyday in the 13th century, largely due to the active slave trade that it conducted with the countries of North Africa. Infighting between numerous claimants to the throne weakened Kanem and led to its collapse in the end. 14th century

Colonial period. The first Europeans were English explorers D. Denham and H. Clapperton. The penetration of the French began in the 1890s. After the defeat of the Rabbaha state 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 in Fort Lamy. A system of governance 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 forced introduction of cotton into the economy (1925), Chad turned into a raw material appendage of the metropolis. Forced labor was widely used on plantations and public works.

In March 1980, armed clashes between the forces of H. Habré and G. Weddey 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 on the part of France and Libya (the latter’s troops were brought into the country at the request of the government of G. Weddey). 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, Libyan troops left Chad on November 16, 1981. However, clashes between government troops and rebels did not stop. In 1982, H. Habré occupied the city of N'Djamena (the name of the capital since 1973), and G. Oueddei created his own government in the north of the country.

After the 1,050-km Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline was put into operation in October 2003, the country became an oil exporter (including to the United States).

The Chadian government's additional costs associated with the continued influx of refugees from Sudan's Darfur resulted in non-payment of wages. They caused a strike of civil servants, which lasted from the end. 2004 to early 2005. In January, mass strikes also took place in educational institutions in Chad for the same reason. In February 2005, Prime Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat resigned and Agriculture Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji was appointed head of government. The new government named the fight against poverty and improvement of the country's governance system as its main domestic policy priorities. It was also announced the intention to allocate in 2005 from oil revenues an additional 400 million CFA francs for the social sector and 600 million for the development of the education sector.

The main financial donor is France. Assistance is also provided by the European Union, Japan, Arab states,

Find " CHAD" on

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 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. Minerals - aluminum, beryl, bauxite, tungsten, clay, iron, gold, limestone, kaolin (clay), caustic soda, copper, petroleum, tin, table salt, natural gas and uranium.

The climate of the northern regions is tropical, desert, and the southern regions are subequatorial. In the north, average monthly air temperatures range from +15 to +35° C. Average annual precipitation is approx. 100 mm. In the south, the air warms up to +26–30° C, and up to 1000–1400 mm of precipitation falls per year. A dense network of rivers (Batha, Logon, Mayo-Kebi, Mbere, Shari, etc.) is typical for the southern regions; there are no rivers in the northern regions. The rivers Shari (the main waterway of the country) and Logon are navigable. Large lakes are Iro, Fitri and the freshwater island of Chad (4th largest in Africa). During the dry period of the year (October-July), the harmattan blows in the northern regions - a hot north-east wind, bringing a lot of dust and sharply impairing visibility.

The flora of the northern regions is represented by shrubs and low-growing plants - ascar, drin, ephedra, jujube, etc. In the south, acacias (including hevea), baobabs, date palms and doum palms grow. Fauna - antelopes, hippos, buffalos, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, leopards, foxes, lions, rhinoceroses, monkeys, birds (ibises, bustards, ostriches, weaver birds, flamingos), elephants and jackals. Lots of snakes, lizards and insects (including termites, tsetse flies).

Population.

Most of the residents 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.

Infant mortality is 94.78 per 1000 births. 47.9% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 2.8%. Life expectancy is 49.07 years (men – 47.95, women – 50.22). (All indicators are given as of 2013).

Per capita income in 2012 was approx. 2 thousand US dollars.

A multi-ethnic state, one of the most ethnically complex states in the world. Counts approx. 200 ethnic groups (Arabs, Bagirmi, Dagu, Zaghawa, Kanuri, Kreish (or Kresh), Maba (or Wadai), Massalit (or Mimi), Mbum, Mubi, Sara, Tama, Tubu, Fulani, Hausa, etc.). The most numerous peoples are the Sara and the Arabs. 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.). Counts approx. 1 thousand French. Chad (like Somalia and Ethiopia) is part of an area marked by acute ethnic conflicts and long-term internal wars.

The rural population is 20%. Large cities - Abeshe, Mundu (approx. 100 thousand people) and Sarkh (approx. 120 thousand people) - 2002.

One of the main exporters of migrant labor in Central Africa. During the long civil war, refugees from Chad found refuge in Benin, Sudan and other countries in 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 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., fetishism is especially developed) - 2003. Islam began to penetrate to the territory of Chad at the end. 11th century 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 structure.

Republic. The constitution adopted on March 31, 1996, with subsequent amendments, 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 ballot for 4 years. The Senate is elected on the basis of indirect elections for a 6-year term, 1/3 of its composition is renewed every two years.

President – Déby Idriss (Idriss Déby). Elected on May 20, 2001. Serves as 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 is similar to the flag of Romania, although the blue color of the Chadian flag 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, Appeal, criminal, traditional and magistrate courts, as well as a Constitutional Council.

Armed forces and defense.

The Chadian National Army plays a significant role in political life countries. 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 into the armed forces is carried out by conscription. France provides assistance in training military personnel and technical equipment for the army. On the territory of Chad there is a French military base(950 people). Defense spending in 2003 amounted to $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 the end In the 1990s, relations with her became complicated, including due to accusations of the French military attaché of having ties with the Chadian opposition. Close relations are maintained with Libya (in January 2005, President I. Deby visited Tripoli). Chad is one of the founders of the Community of Sahel and Saharan States created in 1997 in Libya. Relations with neighboring Sudan were complicated by its support for 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 emerged (about 60 political parties are 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 Union for Democracy and Progress, NPDP, leader - Kumakoye Kassire Delwa. Party created in 1992; National Union for Development and Renewal, NSRO, leader - Kebzabo Saleh, general. sec. – Topona Celestin; United for Democracy and Progress, EDP, chairman - Shua. Basic Party in 1992; Union for Renewal and Democracy, SOD, leader – Kamuge Wadal Abdelkader. Party created in 1992; Federation "Action for the Republic", leader - Yorongar Ngarleji; " Chadian National Liberation Front,FROLINA", Chairman – Weddey Goukouni. Basic Party in 1965.

Trade union associations.

Association of trade unions of Chad. Created as a result of the merger in 1988 of the Trade Union Confederation of Chad and the National Association of Chadian Workers. 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 country's investment climate remains difficult due to limited infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, government bureaucracy and massive corruption.

At least 80% of Chad's population derives their livelihood from agriculture and livestock raising.

The country's main financial donor is France. Assistance is also provided by the European Union, Japan, Arab states, the World Bank (WB) and the Islamic Development Bank. A significant part of the assistance is provided in the form of grants.

In 2012, GDP (at purchasing power parity) amounted to 21.34 billion US dollars, the official GDP exchange rate 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 sector 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 land is cultivated (2001). The main export crops are cotton and peanuts. Pulses, sesame (sesame), corn, mango, cassava, vegetables, millet, wheat, rice, sugarcane, 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 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. Chad ranks first in Central Africa in terms of livestock population. Frequent droughts, locust infestations and tsetse flies cause damage to agriculture. Fisheries are developing, the annual catch 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 (estimated oil reserves will last for 25–30 years). The manufacturing industry is represented mainly by enterprises processing agricultural products (cotton gins, sugar refineries, butter factories, flour mills, meat processing plants, breweries, tobacco factories). The textile and chemical industries (2 perfume factories and an enterprise for the production of plastic shoes), metalworking, production of building materials, and a bicycle assembly plant are developing. Handicraft production, including agricultural implements, has been developed.

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 bulk of imports are machine and transport equipment, industrial products, food, 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 products are cotton, live cattle and gum arabic. in the USA (25%), Germany (17%), Portugal (15.9%), France (6.8%) and Morocco (4.5%) - 2003.

Energy.

The problem of electricity shortage 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 tariffs in the world. Electricity is generated at a thermal power plant (N'Djamena), using petroleum products as fuel. The new thermal power plant in Koma (50 km from the town of Doba) provides only oil production by the American company Exxon-Mobil. In 2003, the World Bank (WB) provided a $55 million loan to upgrade equipment in Chad's energy sector.

Transport.

The problem of developing the transport network and cargo transportation is acute. There are no railways, the main mode of transport is road. Most of the roads are suitable for use only during the dry season (October-July) and require major repairs. The length of roads is approx. 40 thousand km (with hard surface – 412 km of roads) – 1999. The European Union provides assistance in the construction of highways. In rural areas, 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 airstrips (9 of them are paved). international Airport is located in the capital. Since 2003, the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline has been operating (1050 km).

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the CFA franc (XOF), consisting of 100 centimes; strictly tied to the euro. In the beginning. 2004 course national currency was: 1 USD = 581.2XOF.

Tourism.

The development of the tourism industry is hampered by political instability and the lack of extensive infrastructure. Foreign tourists are attracted by diversity 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 and Germany and other countries (in 1997 their number was 26.9 thousand people).

Attractions: National Museum in N'Djamena, Siniaka-Minia Nature Reserve, National parks Zakouma and Manda, the picturesque coast of Chad and the monuments located there ancient culture Sao (5th century BC – 17th century AD)).

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

Koranic schools in Chad began operating on Wednesday. 19th century, European-style schools were created in the 1920s. Officially, 6 years of primary education are compulsory, which children receive from the ages of 6 to 12 years. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 12 and takes place in two stages - 4 and 3 years. To the system higher education included National University(opened in the capital in 1972), the National School of Administration and Magistracy (founded in 1980), medical (established in 1990) and several technical colleges. In 2002, 186 teachers worked at five faculties of the university and 4.05 thousand students studied. Training is conducted in French and Arabic. According to UNESCO data for 2003, Chad is among the countries with the lowest visitation rates primary school female children. In 2003, 47.5% of the population were literate (56% of men and 39.3% of women).

Healthcare.

The UN report on the humanitarian development of the planet in 2004 ranked Chad in 175th place. Doctors are trained abroad and at the Faculty of Medicine of the University in N'Djamena. In January 2005, parliament passed a law to combat AIDS.

Architecture.

Traditional dwellings among peoples leading a sedentary lifestyle are round in shape, the walls are made of adobe, and the roof is grass, conical or flat. The nomadic population lives in collapsible tents on a wooden frame, covered with camel skins or mats made of palm leaves. IN modern cities houses are built from brick and reinforced concrete structures.

Fine arts and crafts.

Origin visual arts in Chad began long before our era: rock paintings discovered in the area between Lakes 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.

Common crafts are: blacksmithing (making vessels, dance and ritual masks from brass and copper, etc.), wood carving, making wooden musical instruments, making and painting pumpkin vessels (calabashes), pottery, hand weaving (making brightly colored fabrics) colors for national clothing called “bubu”), leather production is especially well developed (water skins, snakeskin shoes, wall rugs, saddles, bags, various boxes and vessels made of ox skin). Artistic crafts - making carpets from camel wool, decorative embroidery, weaving items from raffia palm leaves, tree branches and millet stems, 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 especially interesting.

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 emergence of national literature in French began 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 of K. Dzhimeta), M. Mustafa (pseudonym of B. Mustafa).

Music.

National music has long traditions. Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing 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. Particularly popular are ensembles of three large double-sided drums. Dancing - baiyan, ndassion And Ndon Mbesi(accompany the initiation rite), gift(entertainment dance) gag(performed during a burial ritual), mdomnag (hunter dance), etc.

Theater.

Modern national theatrical art was formed on the basis of rich traditional creativity, including folk storytellers. The first permanent theater troupe, “Dzhange” (translated from the local language as “ballet”), was created in 1970.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

The daily newspaper Le Progrès (Progress) and the daily newsletter Info-Tchad (Info-Tchad) are published regularly in French. There are also several periodicals published irregularly. The news agency "Chad Information Agency" (Agence-Info Tchad) has been operating since 1966 and is controlled by the state. Broadcasting of its own television 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 ca. 6 thousand years ago

In the 5th century 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 ceramics production developed. In the 7th–8th centuries. n. e. Zaghawa nomadic pastoralists came to the northeastern regions 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 heyday in the 13th century, largely due to the active slave trade that it conducted with the countries of North Africa. Infighting between numerous claimants to the throne weakened Kanem and led to its collapse in the end. 14th century

Colonial period.

The first Europeans were English explorers D. Denham and H. Clapperton. The penetration of the French began in the 1890s. After the defeat of the Rabbaha state 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 in Fort Lamy. A system of governance 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 forced introduction of cotton into the economy (1925), Chad turned into a raw material appendage of 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 (PPC), the local section of the Democratic Rally of Africa (DOA). The HRCP expressed the interests of the Christian minority in the southern regions of the country. One of its leaders was trade union leader François Tombalbaye. In November 1958, Chad was declared an autonomous republic within the French Community. Elections to the Legislative Assembly (May 31, 1959) brought a landslide victory for the HRCP. On August 11, 1960, the independent Republic of Chad was proclaimed.

Period of independence.

The head of the first government was F. Tombalbai, who was elected chairman of the Human Rights Council in September 1960. The constitution adopted on November 28, 1960 established a 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 March 1980, armed clashes between the forces of H. Habré and G. Weddey 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 on the part of France and Libya (the latter’s troops were brought into the country at the request of the government of G. Weddey). 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, Libyan troops left Chad on November 16, 1981. However, clashes between government troops and rebels did not stop. In 1982, H. Habré occupied the city of N'Djamena (the name of the capital since 1973), and G. Oueddei created his own government in the north of the country.

The 1996 presidential elections were held on a multi-party basis and took place in two rounds. I. Deby was elected president with 69% of the votes. Elections to the National Assembly (November 1996) brought victory to the PDS. In economic policy, the government relied on the further development of oil fields, which began in the end. 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 shares) and Chevron (25% of shares), as well as the Malaysian company Petronas." To the beginning 1998 34 state enterprises were privatized (the privatization program was adopted in 1992). In order to control the management of oil revenues, the Chadian parliament in 1999 adopted a law creating a special board consisting of 9 members. The Chadian economy was benefited by the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994 - economic growth rates in 1997 exceeded 4.1%.

Chad in the 21st century

After the 1,050-km Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline was put into operation in October 2003, the country became an oil exporter (including to the United States).

The Chadian government's additional costs associated with the continued influx of refugees from Sudan's Darfur resulted in non-payment of wages. They caused a strike of civil servants, which lasted from the end. 2004 to early 2005. In January, mass strikes also took place in educational institutions in Chad for the same reason. In February 2005, Prime Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat resigned and Agriculture Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji was appointed head of government. The new government named the fight against poverty and improvement of the country's governance system as its main domestic policy priorities. It was also announced that in 2005 an additional 400 million CFA francs would be allocated from oil revenues for the social sector and 600 million for the development of the education sector.

On May 16, 2004, a group of military personnel attempted a coup in the country. The reason for the action of the rebels - people from the Zaghawa people - was their dissatisfaction with the policies of I. Debi in the Darfur conflict. As a result of 48-hour negotiations, the crisis was resolved without bloodshed.

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 The Chadian authorities supported the opposition in Darfur; many mercenaries from Chad fought on the side of the rebels.

Conflict in Chad broke out between Chadian government forces and opposition forces as the United Front for Democratic Change advanced into Chadian territory. But rebel groups and Sudanese government forces also took part in the conflict. The President of Chad announced the start 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 current president. But Chadian government troops repulsed the attack, and the Chadian president 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 agreement was signed between the opposition and the government. But already in November of the same year, hostilities resumed.

In January 2009, opposition groups united into a single coalition, the Union of Resistance Forces, whose goal was to overthrow President Deby.

On April 25, 2011, the next presidential elections took place. Deby was re-elected again with 83.59% of the votes.

Recently, there have been no full-scale hostilities, but it was only on January 15, 2010 that a peace treaty was signed between Sudan and Chad. Chadian forces were withdrawn from Sudan, but isolated attacks and skirmishes still took place.

On May 2, 2013, it was announced that another coup attempt to overthrow President I. Deby had been thwarted. The participants in the conspiracy were arrested.

Recently, full-scale military operations have not been carried out, but only on January 15, 2010, a peace treaty was signed between Sudan and Chad. Chadian forces were withdrawn from Sudan, but isolated attacks and skirmishes still took place.

Lyubov Prokopenko

Children's resources. Geography of the Republic of Chad: relief, climate, resources, population. Flora and fauna of Chad

1. Recent history

2. Religion

3. National flag

4. Relief

5. Minerals

6. Water

7. Agriculture

8. Industry

9. Transport

10. Membership in international organizations

See also

Sources

Nature.

Population.

Religions.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

Administrative device.

Judicial system.

Armed forces and defense.

Foreign policy.

Political organizations.

Trade union associations.

ECONOMY

Labor resources.

Agriculture.

Industry.

International trade.

Energy.

Transport.

Finance and credit.

Tourism.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

Healthcare.

Architecture.

Fine arts and crafts.

Literature.

Music.

Theater.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

STORY

Pre-colonial period.

Colonial period.

Period of independence.

Chad in the 21st century