Sunday, 15 November 2026

Crude oil is the backbone of Chad's economy, making up most of its export value, with an estimated 1.5 billion barrels of proven reserves mainly in the Doba Basin in the south.

Chad gained full independence from France on August 11, 1960, after decades of French rule that largely neglected the region and used it mainly for raw cotton and forced labour.

Chad is home to more than 200 distinct ethnic groups and over 120 spoken languages, which is why it is often called the Heart of Africa or the Babel Tower of the world.

For travellers, the best window is the cooler dry season from November to February, and operators are advised for trips outside N'Djamena because of rough terrain and poor infrastructure.

The national flag's blue stands for the sky, hope, agriculture and Lake Chad, yellow for the Sahara's sun and sand, and red for progress, unity and the martyrs of independence.