World Country Guide

General Information

Area
1,284,000 sq km (495,800 sq miles).

Population
8,348,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
6.5 per sq km.

Capital
N’Djamna. Population: 530,965 (1993).

Geography
Chad is situated in central Africa, bordered by Libya to the north, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon to the west, the Central African Republic to the south, and Sudan to the east. The topography ranges from equatorial forests to the driest of deserts. In the northeast lies Ennedi, and to the north the volcanic Tibesti range - largely sheer cliffs, ravines and canyons set among Saharan sand dunes.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Idriss Dby since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki since 2003.

Language
The official languages are French and Arabic. Other widely spoken African languages include Sara (in the south). The territory’s boundaries enclose a small but highly diverse population.

Religion
50 per cent Muslim, 30 per cent Christian, 20 per cent Animist.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
Country code: 235. It may be necessary to go through the operator.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network covers the N’Djamna area, and other small clusters, mainly in the south. Network operators include Celtel Tchad (website: www.msi-cellular.com) and Tchad Mobile SA (Libertis).

Fax
Services are available in large hotels in main cities.

Internet
Limited facilities are available in N’Djamna.

Telegram
Available in major post offices in N’Djamna, Sarh, Moundou and Abch.

Post
Airmail takes about one week. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1130 and 1530-1830, Sat 0730-1100.

Press
Newspapers are printed in French and generally have a low circulation. Dailies include Info-Tchad and Le Progrs.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.