Chad in Perspective TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: GEOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................... 4 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 4 Geographic Divisions and Topographic Features .............................................................. 4 Saharan Region ................................................................................................................ 4 Sahelian Region ................................................................................................................ 5 Soudanian Region ............................................................................................................. 5 Climate .................................................................................................................................... 6 Bodies of Water ...................................................................................................................... 7 Major Cities ............................................................................................................................ 8 N’Djamena ....................................................................................................................... 8 Moundou ........................................................................................................................... 9 Sarh ................................................................................................................................... 9 Abeche ............................................................................................................................ 10 Environmental Concerns .................................................................................................... 10 Natural Hazards ................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY ........................................................................................................... 14 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 14 Era of the Kingdoms ............................................................................................................ 15 Kanem and Sayfawa Empires ......................................................................................... 15 Kanem-Bornu Empire ..................................................................................................... 15 Bagirmi and Wadai Empires .......................................................................................... 16 Independence........................................................................................................................ 17 First Civil War (1965-1979) ................................................................................................ 18 Second Civil War (1979-1982) ............................................................................................ 20 More Civil Unrest (1982-2002) ........................................................................................... 21 Twenty-First Century .......................................................................................................... 22 Recent Events ....................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER 3: ECONOMY ........................................................................................................ 25 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 25 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................... 25 Industry ................................................................................................................................ 26 Minerals .......................................................................................................................... 26 Oil ................................................................................................................................... 27 Manufacturing ................................................................................................................ 27 Foreign Trade ....................................................................................................................... 28 © DLIFLC | 2 Chad in Perspective Tourism ................................................................................................................................. 28 Banking and Finance ........................................................................................................... 29 Standard of Living ............................................................................................................... 30 Outlook ................................................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 3 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 32 CHAPTER 4: SOCIETY ............................................................................................................ 33 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 33 Ethnic Groups and Languages ........................................................................................... 33 Sara ................................................................................................................................. 34 Arabs ............................................................................................................................... 34 Toubou and Daza ........................................................................................................... 35 Religion ................................................................................................................................. 35 Islam ............................................................................................................................... 36 Christianity ..................................................................................................................... 36 Animism .......................................................................................................................... 37 Gender Issues ....................................................................................................................... 38 Traditional Dress ................................................................................................................. 38 Cuisine .................................................................................................................................. 39 Arts and Recreation ............................................................................................................. 40 Chapter 4 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER 5: SECURITY ......................................................................................................... 42 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 42 U.S. – Chad Relations .......................................................................................................... 42 Relations with Neighboring Countries............................................................................... 43 Cameroon ....................................................................................................................... 43 Central African Republic ................................................................................................ 44 Libya ............................................................................................................................... 45 Niger ............................................................................................................................... 46 Nigeria ............................................................................................................................ 46 Sudan .............................................................................................................................. 47 Police Force .......................................................................................................................... 48 Armed Forces ....................................................................................................................... 48 Issues Affecting Stability ..................................................................................................... 49 Armed Rebels .................................................................................................................. 49 Humanitarian Risks .......................................................................................................