Chad
Type of Government: Republic
Independence: 1960 from France
Head of State: President Lt. Gen. Idriss Deby Itno (since December 4, 1990)
2007/2008 UN Development Index ranking (out of 177 countries): 170
2007 TI Corruption Perception Index (out of 179): 172
Political Development: The country had endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority. In June 2005, President Idriss Deby held a referendum successfully removing constitutional term limits. Also, petro-revenue designed for economic developments have been reallocated for non-development purposes.
Adult HIV Rate: 4.8%
Life Expectancy: 47.2
GDP: $4.981 billion
Inflation: 8%
Poverty: 80%
Petroleum: 170,000 bpd
Leading Export Partner: US (80.6%)
Economic Note: Over 80% of Chad’s population relies on subsistence farming and livestock for its livelihood. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion barrels - in southern Chad. The nation’s total oil reserves have been estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004.
