GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Chad.
Capital
N’Djaména.
Geography
As a country located in Africa according to hyperrestaurant, Chad borders on Libya to the north, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon to the west, the Central African Republic to the south and Sudan to the east. The variety of landscapes ranges from equatorial forests to the driest desert areas on earth. Lake Chad is between 25,000 and 10,000 square kilometers, depending on the water level. The Chari, Logone and Bahr Salamat rivers in the south of the country have often dried up. The Chad Basin is surrounded by mountains and the Central African plateau. In the east, the crystalline Ovaddai mountain range rises up to 1500 m. The pink heights of the Ennedi rise in the northeast and the volcanic Tibesti mountain range in the north, which consists primarily of bare rock, gorges and valleys.
Government
Presidential republic since 1960. New constitution since 1996. National assembly with 155 members. Independent since 1960 (former French colony).
Head of state
Idriss Déby, since 1990.
Head of government
Albert Pahimi Padacké, since February 2016.
Electricity
220/380 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
West Africa Time: CET +2
MONEY
Currency
1 CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc * = 100 Centimes. Currency abbreviation: CFA Fr, XAF (ISO code). Banknotes are in circulation to the value of 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 CFA Fr. There are coins in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 CFA Fr.
Note: [*] Is issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC, State Bank of the Central African States) and used by Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic. The CFA Franc (XOF) issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO, State Bank of West African States) is not legal tender in Chad. The CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro.
Credit cards
Visa and sometimes MasterCard are accepted to a limited extent in the capital. With the credit card it is possible to withdraw money at the bank counter. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
ATMs do not work with foreign bank cards.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
Mon-Thu and Sat 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Fri 7 a.m.-11 a.m. / 12 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
Unrestricted importation of the local currency, the export of which is limited to 25,000 CFA Fr. Unrestricted import of foreign currencies; Declaration obligation. Export of foreign currencies up to the amount of the declared import, minus the exchange amounts.
Currency Exchange
Bringing euros or US dollars with you is recommended, as these are the easiest to exchange. The re-exchange outside the CFA franc zone is only possible at very unfavorable rates.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official languages are French and Arabic. A lot of Arabic is spoken in the north and Sara in the south. In addition, over 120 regional languages and dialects, the largest tribal groups in the north (predominantly Islamic) are the Nare Arabs, Toubou, Fulani, Haussa, Kanembou, Boulala and Wadai; in the south (mostly Christian) the Baguirmi, Kotoko, Sara, Massa and Moundang.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Annotation
The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes the festival day Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which leads to interruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening times of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is only possible to a limited extent or Some even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes, it must be expected that meals and drinks may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room during Ramadan.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in questions of respecting Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions can also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, does not have a specific duration and can last 2-10 days depending on the region.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Chad duty-free (people over 18 years of age):
400 cigarettes / cigarillos or 125 cigars or 500 g tobacco (women only cigarettes);
3 bottles of wine;
1 bottle of spirits.
Everyday items.
Prohibited exports
Anyone wishing to export handicrafts bought in Chad requires a permit in individual cases. This must be requested from the Ministry of Tourism.
Plants and animal species that are protected under the Washington Convention on Endangered Species (CITES) are not allowed to be exported, even if they can be bought in Chad.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Knowledge of French is essential as there are no professional translators. The months of November to May are the best times for business trips.
Business hours: Authorities: Mon-Thu 7 a.m.-3.30 p.m., Fri 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
Economy
Chambre de Commerce, d ‘Industrie et d’Agriculture (Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture)
13 Avenue du Colonel Moll, BP 458, N’Djaména
Tel: 52 52 64.
Business contacts
Chambre de Commerce, d ‘Industrie et d’Agriculture (Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture)
13 Avenue du Colonel Moll, BP 458, N’Djaména
Tel: 52 52 64.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Self-dialing remote service. Sometimes the conversations have to go through the operator.
Cellphone
GSM 900. The transmission / reception range for mobile communications is limited to the area around N’Djaména. Network operators are Celtel Tchad (Internet: www.td.celtel.com/fr/index.html or www.msi-cellular.com) and Libertis, a subsidiary of Tchad Mobile SA. Roaming contracts exist with mobile phone companies from Germany and Switzerland, among others. The transmission / reception area is mainly limited to the large cities in the south of the country.
Internet
Public Internet access is available in N’Djaména.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes about a week. Post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 7 am-11.30am; Sa 3.30pm-6.30pm; Sun 7.30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Carpets, decorated calabashes, knives, pottery and brass animals. Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7.30 p.m. The grocery stores are open on Sunday mornings. The capital’s market is open from 7:30 a.m. until sunset.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +235 Area (sq km) 1 284 000 Population 11 631 456 Population density (per sq km) 9 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 17