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République du TchadIndependence 11 August 1960
History Chad is a vast country in the heart of the African continent. It contains an immense desert region in the north, occupied by nomads, and a Sahelian region in the south more favourable to farming. Based on the 1898 Franco-British Accord, France occupies Chad. In 1900, it defeats the slave trader Rabah, but genuine occupation does not proceed until 1911, after defeating Fadel Allah (Rabah's son) and Mohamed Idriss es Senoussi, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Nationalism emerges just after the Second World War. The Parti progressiste tchadien (PPT) is founded in 1946 by the Antillean Gabriel Lisette and François Tombalbaye, who leads Chad's march toward independence. In the 1950s, other political parties join the independence movement, such as the Union nationale du Tchad (UNT), whose Secretary General from 1958 to 1963 is Mahamat Abba. On 11 August 1960, the country gains independence. On 20 January 1962, François Tombalbaye commits to a one-party system and suppresses all other political parties. Opposition builds and results in the June 1966 creation of the Front de libération nationale du Tchad (FROLINAT). In 1973, President F. Tombalbaye replaces the PPT with the Mouvement national pour la révolution culturelle et sociale (MNRCS); he applies Mobutu's policy of 'returning to authenticity'. On 13 April 1975, a military coup d'état overthrows him and installs General Félix Malloum. Ever since, the country has experienced severe political instability defined by civil wars and coups d'état (Hissein Habré, Goukouni Weddy). The economy is based on agriculture and livestock. The discovery of oil provides new resources for Chad while exposing it to additional French control. Jacob Sabakinu Kivilu (UNIKIN) |
