Chad

Chad was part of France’s African holdings until 1960, and between then and 1990, experienced both civil warfare and invasions by Libya. Chad has had a history of controversial elections, and since a rebellion broke out in northern Chad in 1998, there has been conflict between various rebel groups and the government, though the last significant rebel threat to the capital happened in 2008. Chad’s total area is 1.284 million sq km, making it three times the size of California. Chad’s natural resources include petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (from Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, and salt. It has a population of 10,975,648 people. More than 120 different languages and dialects are spoken in Chad, though its official languages are French and Arabic. The major religion of Chad is Islam, with 53.1%. 20.1% of Chad is catholic, 14.2% is protestant, 7.3% is animist, 3.1% is atheist, 1.7% is unknown, with the remaining 0.5% other. The capital of Chad is N'Djamena, and the national symbols of Chad are the goat (in the north), and the lion (in the south).

  • Kelly Askew

    Kelly M. Askew

    Director, African Studies Center
    Associate Professor, Anthropology
    Associate Professor, Department of Afroamerican and African Studies

  • Default People Image

    Laura MacLatchy

    Associate Professor, Anthropology