There is much to recommend in Chad. Its capital, N'Djamena, is a friendly and laid-back city with a wonderful Central Market, where the whole experience of haggling for African produce is exceptionally good fun.

Lake Chad, once one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, is still a serene sight to behold, despite its gradual shrinkage due to climate change and increased demands. It is still of huge economic importance, providing water to millions of people in surrounding countries. Indeed, Chad itself, although one of the poorest of Africa's nations, is still geographically staggering, ranging from desert in the north to fertile farmland in the south.

Chad was first defined as a national territory in 1910, as one of the four making up French Equatorial Africa. Chad achieved independence in 1960 with François Tombalbaye, leader of the Parti Progressiste Tchadien (PPT), as prime minister. Its history since then has been characterised by political instability and tensions, largely due to religious and cultural divisions between the Muslim north and Christian/animist south - a pattern that may be found in many other African countries, including Nigeria and Sudan.

Central Africa.

GMT + 1.

1,284,000 sq km (495,800 sq miles).

8.6 million (2003).

6.7 per sq km.

N’Djaména. Population: 700,000.

Chad is situated in central Africa, bordered by Libya to the north, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon to the west, the Central African Republic to the south, and Sudan to the east. The topography ranges from equatorial forests to the driest of deserts. In the northeast lies Ennedi, and to the north the volcanic Tibesti range - largely sheer cliffs, ravines and canyons set among Saharan sand dunes.

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.

President Idriss Déby since 1990.

Prime Minister Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye since February 2007.

Since former army commander, Idriss Déby, took power, he has managed to stabilise the political situation to some extent and install a working democratic constitution. Déby’s political vehicle, the Mouvement Patriotique du Salut (MPS), controls the National Assembly, with a sizeable opposition party in the form of the Union pour le Renouveau et la Démocratie (URD) led by Wadal Abdelkader Kamougue. The main extra-parliamentary opposition is the Mouvement pour la Démocratie and la Justice au Tchad (MDJT), led by Déby’s ex-defence minister, Youssouf Toigimi, which launched an armed rebellion in the northern Tibesti region in October 1998, although its potency has diminished following serious injuries to Toigimi suffered in August 2002.

In 2003 and 2004, unrest in neighbouring Sudan's Dafur region spilled across the border, along with thousands of refugees. Of additional importance has been the discovery of large oil deposits in the southern Doba region of the country (see Business section), which has provided the government with an opportunity to develop the economy. It has also heightened interest in Chad – a relative international backwater – from outside, and has led to some improvement to previously rocky relations with France, the USA, and international institutions such as the World Bank.

Under the terms of the constitution adopted by national referendum in March 1996, the president is directly elected for a five-year term and holds executive power, assisted by an appointed prime minister and cabinet. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral legislature, comprising the 125-strong National Assembly, which is directly elected for a four-year term in a mixture of single-member and multi-member constituencies; and the Senate, which is elected for a six-year term (one-third of which is renewed every two years). Voters backed a change in constitution allowing Déby to stand for a third term in 2006. The main opposition cried foul over the referendum and refused to field any candidates in the May presidential elections. Déby won with over 75% of the vote, a result rejected by the opposition.

The official languages are French and Arabic. Other widely spoken African languages include Sara (in the south). The territory’s boundaries enclose a small but highly diverse population.

50% Muslim, 35% Christian, 15% animist and other.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plug.

Chadians are a relaxed and friendly people, but respect for traditional beliefs and customs is expected. Dress is informal but conservative in respect of Muslim laws. There is strict segregation of women in the Muslim areas. It is customary to shake hands. The left hand should never be used for offering or accepting food, nor should the sole of the foot be exposed in the presence of a Muslim. Identification should be carried at all times; failure to do so may result in detention by police.

Photography: It is necessary to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Information in order to take photographs. Photographing military sites, airports and official buildings is prohibited. Other photography requires a Government permit.