In the Middle of It

Nationalism in Chad is difficult to label. Despite previously being a territory of France, there is no apparent remaining connection between the countries. On top of that, France did not attempt to unite the diverse territory they colonized, and only effectively governed the southern region. So, unlike other former colonies who were forced into more homogeneous cultures, Chad remained almost as divided as it was before it was made into a colony, and then country.  The results from this remain present to this day: Chad is considered to be one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse countries in the world. As nationalism often relies on excluding other nations or people, Chad’s diversity and lack of unity make it difficult to draw support under a single government, idea, etc. 

(Former President Idris Déby)

Moreover, while Chad’s history of government after gaining independence is mostly dominated by a pattern of authoritarian rulers and military regimes, no one group or person has held power for more than a few decades, and opposition, while not strong, is rampant. Chad, in very basic terms, is divided into the Arab-Muslim North, and Christian South. After becoming an independent country in 1960, Chad was ruled by authoritarian leader Tombalbaye for fifteen years until his death in a coup. This was followed by a short three-year military rule, and then several years of civil war. Following this was Habré’s eight years in power, in which he struggled with French and Libyan troops occupying parts of the country in response to his violence and brutality of perceived opponents. In the 1990s, Habré’s general Déby overthrew Habré’s government and became recognized as the new president. He remained in power until recently, 2021. His rule was characterized by several coup attempts, false elections, attempts at modernizing the economy, and civil war. He was allegedly killed in clashes with rebels in the northern region of Chad, and his son is now technically in a temporary position as the country’s leader. This abbreviated history of Chad’s government highlights the fact that unrest and disagreement are strong, and nationalism is not exactly a large aspect of the country.

In fact, Déby’s recent death poses a large potential for even greater division. Déby’s large spending and involvement in the military, and his careful organization of the army to avoid clan and family rivalries, means that his death could lead to a huge breakdown in any remaining stability. 

In regards to inequality, the majority of Chad’s population is controlled by the military, or historically, authoritarian-like leaders. Women especially are affected. There are minimal laws protecting people’s right to owning property, and these laws are not observed for women. Girls receive less education than their male counterparts, and do not have the same opportunities when working. 67% of women are married before they turn 18, and genital mutilation is far worse than other countries in the region. From these facts, it should not be surprising to hear that gender inequality in Chad is ranked among the highest in the world.