The Republic of Chad, Plagued by Political Turmoil

The Republic of Chad, otherwise known simply as Chad, is a country located in north central Africa and borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Chad is a mid-size country in terms of population, with approximately 10,781,000 inhabitants in the country. With close to eleven million people, Chad is ranked as the 75^th most populous country in the world. However, Chad is spread over a vast area, approximately 1,284,000 square kilometers, which makes it the 21^st largest country in the world by geographic area. Since it has such a vast amount of land, the population of the country seems smaller than what it actually is, since overall the country isn't densely populated. However, the southern part of the country is where most of the population resides, and live agricultural and traditional lifestyles. The capital and largest city of Chad is N'djamena, with a population exceeding 700,000 people, it is also a significant contributor to the national economy. Though the country has a vast amount of territory, Chad is a landlocked country and much of the terrain is of desert climate, unsuitable for living and farming. There are three main geographic areas in Chad: the desert, a fertile area, and an arid belt. Additionally, since Chad is landlocked and doesn't have access to the sea, the country relies heavily upon Lake Chad to fulfill their irrigation needs.

Chad is among the most diverse countries on the African continent, with over 200 known ethnicities within the country. There are also over 100 languages used in Chad, though French and Arabic are the official languages and are the most widely-spoken. The northern part of Chad is largely Muslim and the primary ethnicities present are Tuareg, Arab, Hadjerai, Toubou, and Fulbe. On the contrary, the southern region of the country is largely Christian and/or practice traditional religious beliefs; some of the main ethnicities of the southern people are Ngambaye, Sara, Massa, and Moundang. The two regions with their opposite cultures, beliefs, and religions, are often bitter towards one another and conflict has occurred in the past as a result.

The Republic of Chad is among the poorest countries in the world, with a GDP per-capita of only $1,770, the 150^th highest (lowest) in the world. This wide-spread poverty is in direct correlation to the country's underdeveloped, vulnerable economic state. As the people of Chad don't have access to the coastline, a livelihood for many African countries, they are particularly unfortunate. Chad's transportation network is practically non-existent, and there aren't any railroads in the country nor are there any all-weather roads. Chad's national resources are also inadequate to fulfill the country's needs. To further add to the crisis, Chad has been subject to internal political turmoil for quite some time. The Chad economy is largely focused on subsistence farming and thus Chad doesn't export many goods to other countries. Approximately 80 percent of the country's labor force is employed in subsistence farming, though agriculture only accounts for 30 percent of the national economy. In the south, where rain is abundant, farmers often produce cotton and peanuts, in addition to millet, rice, sorghum, potatoes and manioc. Livestock are also raised, and there is also a small fishing industry that relies on Lake Chad. Being as a large portion of the country is unsuitable for farming and is prone to drought, Chad often relies on foreign food aid to feed its people. Manufacturing industries are essentially non-existent in the country, but Chad also mines uranium and natron, two of its chief minerals.

The Republic of Chad is officially, as its name suggests, a republic. A constitution was drafted in 1996 and governs the country. The government is headed by the president, who's elected by the popular vote of the people to serve a five-year term. The president is eligible to be re-elected infinitely, as there are no term limits in place. There is also a prime minister, who is appointed by the president, and assists in the governmental affairs. The Chad government has a single legislative assembly, composed of 155 members who are popularly elected to serve four-year terms. The current president of Chad, since being first elected in 1990, is President Lt. General Idriss Deby. President Deby appointed Pascal Yoadimnadji to serve in the capacity as Prime Minister of Chad, in 2005.