Chad

Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, and Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon to the west. The capital and largest city is N'Djamena. Covering about 1,284,000 square kilometers, Chad is the fifth-largest country in Africa by area and has a diverse population of numerous ethnic groups. Official languages are French and Modern Standard Arabic, with many local languages spoken across the country. The government is a semi-presidential republic with executive powers shared between a president and a prime minister.

Geographically, Chad lies largely within the Sahel. The north is part of the Sahara, while the south features savanna and woodland. Lake Chad, near the western border, is a major water feature that has experienced significant shrinkage in recent decades. Distinctive landscapes include the Tibesti and Ennedi mountain ranges in the north. The climate ranges from arid to semi-arid and tropical, with rainfall varying by region and season.

Historically, Chad was part of French Equatorial Africa and gained independence in 1960. Since independence it has experienced periods of civil conflict and military rule, followed by transitions toward democracy. In the 2010s, insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin affected regional stability and humanitarian conditions, prompting international aid and regional security efforts.

Economically, the country relies on subsistence agriculture and livestock, with oil production emerging in the 2000s. Oil exports and foreign aid play significant roles, but development remains uneven and Chad faces poverty, infrastructure gaps, and humanitarian challenges.

Chad is also a given name in several countries, reflecting the country’s name root via Lake Chad.