Long-form name: Republic of Chad

Type: republic

Capital: N'Djamena

Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular--prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile

Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)

Constitution: 14 April 1962 (currently suspended); Fundamental Act of the Republic proclaimed 18 October 1982 currently serves as the basis for government with decrees promulgated by the President

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; National Assembly dissolved in April 1975; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day (founding of the third republic), 7 June (1982)

Branches: presidency; Council of Ministers; National Consultative Council, Court of Appeal

Leaders: @m5Chief of State and Head of Government--President Hissein HABRE (since 19 June 1982)

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Elections: none planned

Political parties and leaders: National Union for Independence and Revolution (UNIR) established June 1984 with Habre as President; numerous dissident groups (most significant opponents have returned to the government since mid-1986)

Communists: no front organizations or underground party; probably a few Communists and some sympathizers

Other political or pressure groups: the development of a stable government continues to be hampered by prolonged tribal and regional antagonisms

Member of: AfDB, CEAO, Conference of East and Central African States, EAMA, ECA, EC (associate), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, Lake Chad Basin Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Mahamat Ali ADOUM; Chancery at 2002 R Steet NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 462-4009; US--Ambassador Robert L. PUGH; Embassy at Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena (mailing address is B. P. 413, N'Djamena); telephone Õ235å (51) 32-69 or 35-13, 28-62, 23-29, 32-29, 30-94, 28-47

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Andorra which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; also similar to the flag of Romania which has a national coat of arms featuring a mountain landscape centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

NOTE: The information regarding Chad on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Chad Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Chad Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.