The recent news of Chad’s President, Idriss Deby’s tragic death in a frontline battle against northern rebels has set the international stage abuzz. He was engaged in combat with militants from the FACT (the Front for Change and Concord in Chad) group.
A Deeper Look into Idriss Deby and His Reign
Idriss Deby had been the ruler of Chad since 1990, assuming control in the aftermath of a coup. His rebel forces successfully overthrew then-President Hissene Habre, who was later found guilty of human rights abuses at an international tribunal in Senegal. The announcement of Deby’s demise arrived just a mere day after he was declared victorious in a presidential election that had granted him a sixth term in office.
During his rule, Deby proved to be a significant French ally in the battle against Islamic extremism on the African continent. He offered a hosting ground for the French military Operation Barkhane and provided vital troops to maintain peace in northern Mali.
Inspecting the Opposing Force: The Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT)
FACT is both a political and military organisation situated in the northern part of Chad. Its primary objective is to topple the government of Chad.
Geographic Insights into Chad
Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa, named after Lake Chad, which is the second-largest lake in Africa. This lake’s basin also spans parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Approximately one-third of Chad is engulfed by the Sahara Desert, while the southern region boasts sizable expanses of wooded savannas and woodlands.
Renowned as part of the Sahel region, Chad is located within a semi-arid area of western and north-central Africa, extending from Senegal eastwards to Sudan. It serves as a transitional zone between the arid Sahara to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south.
In 2003, Chad joined the ranks of oil-producing nations, following the completion of a $4 billion pipeline that connects its oilfields to terminals on the Atlantic coast.
The Relationship Between India and Chad
Chad, a member country of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) spearheaded by India and France, also participates in the TEAM-9 initiative. TEAM-9 (Techno Economic Approach for African Movement) is comprised of eight Central and West African countries seeking technical and economic benefits through cooperation with India.
A significant increase in bilateral trade between these two nations occurred in 2018-19, amounting to $513.59 million, primarily due to the surge in crude oil import from Chad. Additionally, India has extended a Line of Credit of $27.45 million for setting up a Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at N’djamena.
As part of a Technical Assistance Programme (TAP), India has offered technical aid for cotton production in six African countries, including Chad, between 2012 and 2018. Furthermore, numerous civilians and public servants from Chad have been recipients of courses and training under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC).
