History & Government: The Republic of Chad, a landlocked country in North Central Africa, was a province of French Equatorial Africa. The country gets its name from Lake Chad, which lies on the western border with Niger and Nigeria. It became independent on August 11, 1960. Northern Muslim rebels have fought Southern Christian government and French troops since 1966. Idriss Deby took control in 1990.

Economy: The country's economy is entirely rural and based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Cotton and meat are main exports. Cattle, sheep and camels are raised.