Chad

F

Communications

The radio station in N’Djamena is government owned and broadcasts programmes in French, Arabic, and eight African languages. There is also one state-owned television station, Teletchad. Television services and telecommunications are limited. There are about 5,000 telephones in use.

V

Government

Political instability created by conflicts between the government and Libyan-backed secessionist groups plagued Chad throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In 1989 a new constitution providing for an elected president and parliament came into effect. This constitution was suspended, and parliament dissolved, after an insurgent group, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by Idriss Déby, took power in December 1990. A new constitution was adopted following a referendum in March 1996, vesting executive power in a president, who appoints a prime minister. The president could formerly serve a maximum of two five-year terms but in May 2004 an amendment to the constitution paved the way for President Idriss Déby to seek a third presidential term. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral legislature. There are numerous dissident groups and at least 45 opposition political parties.

A

Health and Welfare

There were 25,664 people per doctor in 2004. The infant mortality rate was 100 deaths per 1,000 live births and 6.2 per cent of gross domestic product was spent on health care.

B

International Organizations

Chad is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the African Union.

VI

History

Cave paintings indicate that Chad was a fertile and populous country in ancient times. By the 9th century ad, the Kingdom of Kanem (see Kanem-Bornu Empire) was established in what is now western Chad, with its capital at Njimi, near Mao. Its rulers adopted Islam in the 11th century. Kanem was subjected to neighbouring Bornu in the 16th century, and in the succeeding period the chief powers were the sultanates of Baguirmi and Wadai in the south. The export of slaves to northern Africa was an important sector of the economy of these states.