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Overview
The Republic of Chad, in central Africa, is one of the
continent's most troubled nations. Political conflict and violence
are rife and N'Djamena, the capital, is where most of the fighting
occurs. As a consequence, this is one of the poorest countries in
the world; most Chadians live as subsistence farmers and
herders.
As far back as 700 BC, people moved into the Chadian basin in great
numbers. Today it is home to over 200 different ethnic groups, with
Arabic and French as the official languages, and Islam the most
widely practised religion. Its landlocked location and desert
climate have earned Chad the title 'Dead Heart of Africa'. It has a
Sudanese savannah area in the south and Lake Chad, after which the
country is named, is the second largest wetland in Africa.
After the lake, the most popular attractions are the desert
landscapes of Ennedi and the Zakouma National Park. Emi Koussi, in
the Sahara, is the country's highest peak and other places of
interest include the Chad National Museum and the Chad Cultural
Centre. Chad remains a dangerous place and hence tourist visits are
not advised at this time.