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Chad (Vol 1, 2004)

in Africa Yearbook Online
Authors:
Mirjam de Bruijn
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Han van Dijk
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(3,658 words)

During 2004, political stability of Chad was undermined by the Darfur crisis in neighbouring Sudan, and continued uncertainty about the revenues from oil exploitation. Both issues were said to lie at the origin of an attempted coup d'état in May. Rumours about the poor health of President Idriss Déby fuelled concerns about political stability. An amendment to the constitution that cleared the way for President Déby to stand for re-election after his second term was accepted in parliament. Foreign support for the current regime, mainly from France and the US, was still strong, since Déby seemed to be the only guarantee of political stability, the opposition being in disarray. The exploitation of oil is said to have increased GDP by more than 30%. Despite oil revenues, Chad still ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world, with 80% of the population living on less than $ 1 a day. The rainy season finished early and harvests were far below (30%) the levels of last year. Furthermore, the transhumance of livestock keepers to the south started as early as September instead of December, increasing tensions between nomadic herders and farmers. The damage done by locust plagues was relatively modest. However, there are indications that Chad is heading for a food crisis in 2005.
Title:
Chad (Vol 1, 2004)
Africa Yearbook Online
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/1872-9037_ayb_ayb2004_COM_0023
Language:
English
Source Editors:
Seidu M. Alidu, Benedikt Kamski, Andreas Mehler, and David Sebudubudu
First-online:
01 Oct 2008
Last-update:
01 Feb 2017
ISSN:
1872-9037
Publisher:
Brill

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