Chad
Since independence from France in 1960, Chad's history has been marked by instability and violence stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab, Muslim north and the predominantly black-African, Christian south. After independence, Chad endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. A transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly.
Idriss Deby stood for a third term as president in elections in May 2006, and won a new mandate with 64.67% of the vote, according to the official result. The elections were boycotted by the main opposition parties This election occurred in the midst of continued instability and violence in the east and southeast of the country, which is linked to instability in neighboring Darfur (Sudan). After further deterioration the Chadian government declared a state of emergency in three provinces in the east on November 13, 2006. Following the adoption of UN Security Council 1706 in August 2006, relating to Sudan, various possibilities for stabilizing the situation are being considered by the international community.
Déby, a career army officer, helped Hissen Habre topple Goukouki Oueddei in 1982. In 1990, Mouvement Patriotique du Salut (MPS) forces under Idriss Déby took control of the capital and Déby became Chad's new leader after a long civil war and was proclaimed president in 1991. In 1996 he oversaw the inauguration of a multiparty constitution and, later that year, won the country's first presidential election. A change to the constitution, approved in 2004, allows Déby to stand for a third term in 2006; the opposition alleges corruption in the 2005 referendum.
Chad has experienced consistently high economic growth rates over the last five years, largely due to foreign investments surrounding development of the Doba Basin oil fields and the construction of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline linking Chad's oilfields to terminals on the Atlantic coast. As a result, petroleum production is expected to become the major driver of economic growth within the country.
Unrest in the Central African Republic causes instability across the Chad-CAR border. A large force of Chadian mercenaries helped President Francois Bozize oust his predecessor in March 2003. Many of these fighters returned from Central African Republic with a cash bonus of US$600 each - a payoff from the CAR government both in acknowledgement of their support, and to make them leave the country. They brought a new supply of weapons with them, many of which are now for sale. Some Chadian fighters who have left the Central African Republic went to Cameroon, where were blamed for a renewed crime wave.
Since 2003, unrest in neighboring Sudan's Darfur region has spilled across the border, driving many thousands of refugees into Chad. In relation to this conflict, dissent became apparent within Déby's Zaghawa ethnic group, as many Zaghawa traditionally live in Darfur. Influential Zaghawas resented Déby's failure to back wholeheartedly the rebellion in Darfur against Sudan's Arab-dominated government, which armed and supported Arab militias carrying out a scorched-earth campaign in Darfur. Déby's government led mediation over the Darfur conflict. According to foreign diplomats, several senior officers urged Déby to play a much less ambiguous role in the conflict. Déby was unwilling to do so, possibly because Sudan was a key factor in his rise to power in 1990.
In May 2004, soldiers led a failed rebellion that Déby claimed was a plot to assassinate him, calling the mutineers "fanatical and manipulated." (The government had initially attributed the mutiny to salary issues.) The arrested "ringleaders" included senior officers of the Republican Guard unit, Déby's personal guard and the Chadian Nomad and National Guard. The leaders of these military units were all in Déby's inner circle, raising questions over dissent in the upper echelons of power. The main opposition coalition joined with a number of other parties in claiming that the mutiny was orchestrated. These parties asserted that the incident was an excuse to prevent a demonstration to protest the constitutional revision permitting Déby to run for another term in office in 2006, and to appoint his son and suspected successor as vice president.
The incidents in N'djamena indicated serious disruption at the heart of the regime; historically, problems within the Chadian military give rise to problems for the state. Among the Zaghawa who hold so many key positions within the regime, personal ambitions and disputes tend to spark serious political problems -- exacerbated by clan rivalries.
Darfur's rebel groups, which drew large support from the Zaghawa population, apparently lend support to a growing anti-Déby rebellion. This may be another reason why Déby gave such strong backing to the Darfur peace process.
Please see “Recent Incidents” below for more information on a coup attempt in 2006, and subsequent rebel action against Déby.
Terrorists are active in countries neighboring Chad, including Algeria. In March 2004, Chadian forces fought with members of an Algerian extremist group in the northern Tibesti region of Chad. In 2004, this group kidnapped a group of Western tourists in Algeria and held them for more than six months in Algeria and Mali.
The political and security situation is uncertain and could change rapidly. An attack on N'Djamena in April 2006 was one of a series of recent attempts to mount a coup. Outside N'Djamena, civil unrest and fighting between government forces and rebels continues, particularly in the eastern region of Chad and along the border with Sudan. There have been reports of fresh fighting in the area of Adre, Tine and Ade in the east.
Rebel activity and refugee movement from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region has spilled into Chad. As a result of the conflict in Darfur, over 200,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to the eastern part of Chad. The humanitarian situation is grave and the security situation is extremely unstable, with reports of fighting spilling across the border and rebel activity in this area. Armed insurgent groups are committing acts of banditry and violence on both sides of and across the Chad/Sudan border. On April 15, 2006, President Deby announced that he was breaking off diplomatic relations with Sudan and closing the border between the two countries. The border between Chad and Sudan has since reopened, following the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, the security situation in the border area remains extremely unstable.
Rebels from the east and those who had transited the Central African Republic attacked N'Djamena on April 13, 2006. There was fierce fighting but the city is now quiet with forces loyal to the President in control. Following the rebel attack many diplomatic missions and international organizations evacuated non-essential staff from Chad. Some have now returned.
In the last week of October 2006, about the beginning of the dry season, rebel columns advanced through Am Timan and Abou Deia but did not continue on to N'Djamena. The dry season continues until May and there is likely to be further activity during this period. In mid-November 2006, the government of Chad declared a state of emergency in a number of eastern regions. The affected regions are Ouaddai, Wadi Fira and Salamat, Hadjer-Lamis, BET, Moyen Chari, Mondoul and for the capital N’Djamena. Travel restrictions may follow. The state of emergency also reinstates censorship of the independent media and forbids radio coverage of issues “affecting public order.”
There have been a number of strikes and demonstrations linked to the non-payment of salaries to government workers. Some of these have degenerated into riots. Avoid all political rallies, demonstrations and large public gatherings.
In February 2006, two staff members affiliated with UNHCR were forcibly abducted in the area around Guereda and Iriba (but subsequently released unharmed).
The border areas with the Central African Republic and the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti provinces in the north remain dangerous. There have been recent armed clashes and reports of increased rebel activity. The area bordering Libya remains heavily land-mined. The borders with Central African Republic and Libya are also subject to closure, with little or no notice. The tri-border area where Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic meet should be avoided.
Avoid the area south of Goz Beida where there has been significant rebel activity recently. This area is also infamous for its roadblocks which are frequently used to facilitate car-jackings. There have been a number of deaths associated with these.
Travel in the regions of Borkou and Tibesti is hazardous, due to rebel activity and banditry.
For travel outside the capital, travelers must receive authorization from the Ministry of the Interior, which is normally granted without difficulty after a few days. But roads are poor and often impassable during the rainy season (July-October), especially in the south. Travel only in convoy, keep doors locked and carry spare fuel and supplies. Due to the activity of highway bandits, do not travel by road after dark.
Police checkpoints are common: you may be asked to show your passport, driving license and vehicle registration documents.
Foreign diplomatic staff, familiar with local safety and security issues, do not use domestic flights run by Chadian airline companies unless this is unavoidable.
Chad is a mainly Muslim country. Show respect for local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims (though children under the age of puberty are not required to fast).
Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence.
Photography of military sites, government buildings and airports is prohibited. Other photography requires a government permit.
Carry identification at all times (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce such identification can lead to detention by the police.
You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country. Failure to do so may result in a further vaccination being administered, for which there is a charge.
Since 2001 Chad has experienced several serious outbreaks of cholera, measles, Hepatitis E and meningitis. Meningitis outbreaks are especially common in the south of the country, which lies within the African meningitis belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. More than 900 cases of Cholera have been reported in Chad since April 2006, more than 200 of these in N’Djamena. Ensure hygiene at home, drink only bottled water when out and avoid food and drink from street vendors.
