Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY,
chairman; President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new
constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident
groups; national conference to be held in 1992
Suffrage:
universal at age NA
Elections:
National Consultative Council:
last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990
President:
last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - President Hissein
HABRE was elected without opposition; note - the government of then
President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990, and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3
December 1990; national conference scheduled for mid-1992 and election to
follow in 1993
Communists:
no front organizations or underground party; probably a few Communists and
some sympathizers
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
:Chad Government
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador ACHEIKH ibn Oumar; Chancery at 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC
20009; telephone (202) 462-4009
US:
Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
(mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone [235] (51) 62-18,
40-09, or 51-62-11; FAX [235] 51-33-72
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to
the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a
national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow
band; design was based on the flag of France
:Chad Economy
Overview:
The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural
resources potential make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in
the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict
with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its
1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports.
Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing.
Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural
products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent
on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from
shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the
Doba basin in the south. Since coming to power in December 1990, the Deby
government has experienced a year of economic chaos.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $205; real growth rate
0.9% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
—4.9% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
entirely funded by outside donors
Exports:
$174 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
partners:
France, Nigeria, Cameroon
Imports:
$264 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum
products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military equipment
partners:
US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt:
$530 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
Electricity:
40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate),
soap, cigarettes
Agriculture:
accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton most
important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice,
potatoes, manioc; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, camels; self-sufficient
in food in years of adequate rainfall
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80
million
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF)
= 100 centimes
:Chad Economy
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January
1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54
(1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Chad Communications
Highways:
31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite; remainder
unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
2,000 km navigable
Civil air:
3 major transport aircraft
Airports:
71 total, 55 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; broadcast
stations - 6 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Chad Defense Forces
Branches: