It is not advisable to travel at all to the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti provinces or to the areas around the border with Sudan and the Central African Republic. For further advice, visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.

Chad is situated in central Africa, bordered by Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Sudan. The topography ranges from equatorial forests to the driest of deserts. N’Djaména, Chad’s capital, is slowly regaining its pre-war reputation as one of Central Africa’s liveliest cities. Bullet holes in buildings serve as a reminder of troubled times, but the atmosphere here is increasingly upbeat. The historic quarter, with its colourful daily market, is fascinating and a good place to pick up colourful Chadian rugs and jewellery. Zakouma National Park is located on an immense plain across which the Bahr Salamat and its tributaries flow from north to south. Here, visitors may view what is left of the wildlife (the area has suffered greatly at the hands of poachers). Lively dancing and music is to be found in the capital, where there are several nightclubs. Outside N’Djaména, nightlife is limited, although bars and open-air dancing can generally be found. This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice: British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tel: (0845) 850 2829. Website: www.fco.gov.uk US Department of State Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Central Africa.

GMT + 1.

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

8.6 million (2003).

6.7 per sq km.

N’Djaména. Population: 700,000.

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.

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Idriss Déby since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki since 2003. Recent history: Since former army commander, Idriss Déby, took power, he has managed to stabilise the political situation to some extent and install a working democratic constitution. Déby’s political vehicle, the Mouvement Patriotique du Salut (MPS), controls the National Assembly, with a sizeable opposition party in the form of the Union pour le Renouveau et la Démocratie (URD) led by Wadal Abdelkader Kamougue. The main extra-Parliamentary opposition is the Mouvement pour la Démocratie and la Justice au Tchad (MDJT), led by Déby’s ex-Defence Minister, Youssouf Toigimi, which launched an armed rebellion in the northern Tibesti region in October 1998, although its potency has diminished following serious injuries to Toigimi suffered in August 2002.
In 2003 and 2004, unrest in neighbouring Sudan's Dafur region spilled across the border, along with thousands of refugees. Of additional importance has been the discovery of large oil deposits in the southern Doba region of the country (see Business section), which has provided the Government with an opportunity to develop the economy. It has also heightened interest in Chad – a relative international backwater – from outside, and has led to some improvement to previously rocky relations with France, the USA, and international institutions such as the World Bank.
Under the terms of the constitution adopted by national referendum in March 1996, the President is directly elected for a five-year term and holds executive power, assisted by an appointed Prime Minister and Cabinet. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral legislature, comprising the 125-strong National Assembly, which is directly elected for a four-year term in a mixture of single-member and multi-member constituencies; and the Senate, which is elected for a six-year term (one-third of which is renewed every two years). Voters backed a change in constitution allowing Déby to stand for a third term in 2006. The main opposition cried foul over the referendum and refused to field any candidates in the May presidential elections. Déby won with over 75 per cent of the vote, a result rejected by the opposition.

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.

50 per cent Muslim, 35 per cent Christian, 15 per cent animist and other.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plug.

Chadians are a relaxed and friendly people, but respect for traditional beliefs and customs is expected. Dress is informal but conservative in respect of Muslim laws. There is strict segregation of women in the Muslim areas. It is customary to shake hands. The left hand should never be used for offering or accepting food, nor should the sole of the foot be exposed in the presence of a Muslim. Identification should be carried at all times; failure to do so may result in detention by police. Photography: It is necessary to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Information in order to take photographs. Photographing military sites, airports and official buildings is prohibited. Other photography requires a Government permit.