Chad Oration
"Oration" is defined as a formal public speech, especially one delivered on a special occasion or at academic exercises, characterized by a studied or elevated style, diction, or delivery. As a student of African history, I have undertaken a project that gives an informative exploration of the country of my choice - Chad. I will be researching many aspects of Chad, including its geography, music, art, history, and more.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Dictatorships
Even though Chad gained its independence in 1960, its unstable and corrupted government has always been controlled by dictators.
As president, Tombalbaye abolished the two party system in favor of autocratic rule. He is remembered for insensitive mismanagement and the rife he caused between different ethnicities in the country. His main opposition had been the Muslim party, who began a civil war in 1965. Tombalbaye was captured and killed in 1975. [2]
also adopted a new constitution through which he became the president in 1996. He won the next election five years later, then removed the law which stated that each president could only have two terms. His rule is marked with ethnic violence. Rebel forces have tried to take the capital twice, once in 2006 and again in 2008, but have failed both times. In 2013, a coup was foiled against President Deby.
[1] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[2] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[3] "Felix Malloum", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Malloum.
[4] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[5] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[6] "Hissene Habre", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiss%C3%A8ne_Habr%C3%A9.
[7] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[8] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[9] "Idriss Deby", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idriss_D%C3%A9by.
Tombalbaye
Francois Tombalbaye was named Prime Minister upon Chad's independence in 1960. He gained power by consolidating support from a divided north and south. He had been a member of the Sara peoples and was a union leader and representative from the Moyen-Chari Prefecture. He claimed the Chadian Progressive Party (Parti Progressiste Tchadian) as his own. [1]As president, Tombalbaye abolished the two party system in favor of autocratic rule. He is remembered for insensitive mismanagement and the rife he caused between different ethnicities in the country. His main opposition had been the Muslim party, who began a civil war in 1965. Tombalbaye was captured and killed in 1975. [2]
Malloum & Oueddei
After his death, Felix Malloum became president for a short time (1975-1978). [3] In 1979, rebel factions finally conquered the capital, which caused a government collapse. Goukouni Oueddei was then set up as president after a coup in 1979, but another coup deposed him in 1982. [4]Habre
Hissene Habre gained power as a new president in 1982. Relying on corruption and violence, Habre favored his own ethnic group - the Daza. [5] He is currently been charged for serious crimes, such as the killing and torturing of tens of thousands of people His secret police was responsible for many of these. Habre was also responsible for ethnic cleansing against the Sara, Hadjerai, and Zaghawa. [6] He was deposed by Deby, his general, in 1990 and placed under house arrest in Senegal. He was charged with war crimes in 2013. [7]Deby
Idriss Deby, the current dictator, abolished the single party policy when he took power in 1990. He [8] He is seen as responsible for the oil line corruption (see prior article). [9]also adopted a new constitution through which he became the president in 1996. He won the next election five years later, then removed the law which stated that each president could only have two terms. His rule is marked with ethnic violence. Rebel forces have tried to take the capital twice, once in 2006 and again in 2008, but have failed both times. In 2013, a coup was foiled against President Deby.
[1] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[3] "Felix Malloum", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix_Malloum.
[5] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[6] "Hissene Habre", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiss%C3%A8ne_Habr%C3%A9.
[7] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[8] "Chad: History", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History.
[9] "Idriss Deby", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idriss_D%C3%A9by.
Monday, March 23, 2015
First European Contacts to First Independent Government
Exploration & Conquest
The palace of the Sheikh of Bornu as sketched by Dixon Denham |
With their claims staked out, France moved in. Expeditions found the forces of Rabih az-Zubayr, a slave trader in southern Chad and they defeated him in the Battle of Kousseri. [4] It took them eleven years to conquer the Muslim states in the north. [5] By 1913, the French had completed their conquest of Chad. [6]
Chad - Colony of France
Now called the Military Territory of Chad, the country, having separated from France's largest colony, became a part of French Equatorial Africa. [7] This confederation included three other colonies to the south - Gabon, Middle Congo, and Uubangi-Chari. [8]Chad was ruled by a French civilian administration which was located in different colony. Although this government embraced a sort of "live and let live" policy when it came to the northern African trade routes, the south was used chiefly for gaining wealth. Cheap labor was sent south to other colonies. After large scale economic development improved cotton production, Chad became a huge source. Plantations had to reach a specific quota and the French bought at low prices. The government lacked unifying policies and was characterized by neglect. [9]
Political Progression
This all began to change in 1940 when Felix Eboue, a lieutenant governor, led Chad to support Charles de Gaulle during World War II. They were the first French colony to do so. Eboue tried to improve the modernization vs. culture situation but died when his plans were only partially realized. He was able, however, to secure African representation in France in 1946. Chadian delegates were now being sent to the French General Council. Soon, Africans became French citizens and reformed abolished forced labor. [10] In 1955, Chadians were given the right to hold civil service positions.When the French National Assembly passed an enabling act (Overseas Reform Act), Chad and other territories were given greater self rule. [11] Chad voted to become an autonomous republic on September 28, 1958, and the Republic of Chad came to be on November 26 of that year. Full and official independence was granted on August 11 of 1960. The new constitution and government was set up two years later on April 4th with Tombalbaye as President. [12]
Timeline of Important Events
1822: First exploration1849: Conference with Germany to set borders
1887: France claims its territories
1989: Conference with England to set borders
1913: Conquest complete
1920: Chad becomes a colony, part of the French Equatorial Africa Confederation
1940: Chad becomes first colony to declare loyalty to Free France
1946: Chad gets representation in the French General Council
1956: Overseas Reform Act gives Chad greater self rule
1958: Colony becomes a republic
1960: Chad receives full independence
1962: Tombalbaye's government is set up
[1] "Chad - History", http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Chad-HISTORY.html.
[2] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[3] "Chad - History", http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Chad-HISTORY.html.
[4] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[5] "French Equatorial Africa", http://www.discoverfrance.net/Colonies/Eq_Africa.shtml.
[6] "Chad - History", http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Chad-HISTORY.html.
[7] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[8] "French Equatorial Africa", http://www.discoverfrance.net/Colonies/Eq_Africa.shtml.
[9] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[10] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[11] "French Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chad.
[12] "Chad - History", http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Chad-HISTORY.html.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Refugees: The Consequences of the Arab Spring
Idriss Deby, Chad's current dictator |
Even with this history of dictatorship and a lack of human rights, the Arab Spring did not affect Chad the way it affected other countries. While the northern countries were overthrowing governments, communication kept most Chadians from knowing what was going on in the north. The still-developing and stifled telecommunications kept any sort of protest movement from succeeding. A study conducted in 2013 asked Chadians two questions about political awareness and recorded their answers in percentages [3]:
Q: "How closely have you been following political developments in Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia?"
A: Very closely/somewhat closely: 31% [4]
Q: "Do you believe that the events that have unfolded in these Arab countries have had more of a positive or more of a negative effect on your country?"
A: More of a positive effect: 25%. More of a negative effect: 49% [5]
The photogenic Gaddafi of Libya |
In 2013, a plot to overthrow the government through the assassination of Idrill Deby. It was foiled, but some consider it the attempted beginning of an "Arab Summer." [8] Reports state that senior military offices and some members of the parliament were imprisoned for months for allegedly being involved in the plot. [9]
Refugees from Darfur, Sudan, in a camp in east Chad |
[1] "Chad". https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2013/chad#.VQePE454pkA
[2] "Chad". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad#History
[5] "Arab Spring Largely Ignored in Sub-Saharan Africa", Jay Loschky. http://www.gallup.com/poll/172079/arab-spring-largely-ignored-sub-saharan-africa.aspx
[6] "How could the Arab democratic wave change Africa?" Judith Vorrath. http://www.iss.europa.eu/publications/detail/article/how-could-the-arab-democratic-wave-change-africa/
[7] "Mali coup shows Arab Spring instability bleeds over borders," Faisal Al Yafai. http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/mali-coup-shows-arab-spring-instability-bleeds-over-borders#page1
[8] "Chad government foils coup attempt - minister," Madjiasra Nako. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/02/uk-chad-coup-idUKBRE94101H20130502
[9] "Africa: Learning the hard lessons of Arab Spring," Acheikh Ibn-Oumar. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/12/africa-learning-hard-lessons-arab-spring-2013121771840774707.html
[10] "Chad". https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2013/chad#.VQePE454pkA
[11] "The Arab Spring's looming refugee crisis," Chris Ulack. http://foreignpolicy.com/2011/06/23/the-arab-springs-looming-refugee-crisis/
[12] "Sudanese refugees in Chad." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_refugees_in_Chad
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Facing Adversity
As discussed in a previous post, Christianity reached Chad in the 1920's. Since then the Church has grown considerably, but its history has not always been "rosy." Missions, existing under the government's shadow, had to face many political issues. [1]
American Baptists, the first denomination, had to work around the French administrations through the monetary support of home churches. [2] The first six missionaries were sent by the General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America. [3] Paul Metzler, one of the first, began five stations in the southeastern region. [4] They encouraged the new converts to give up their culture and folk religions and settle near Christian missions. They provided schools, clinics, and hospitals to Chadians before the French colonial administration did and produced Western-educated Chadians. [5]
When French Roman Catholics appeared in 1929, friction developed in Europe because the Vatican had previously placed Chad under Italian jurisdiction. Fearing a fight, France discouraged Catholic missionaries from going in and upsetting Italy. The Vatican supported this decision. It was not until after World War II, when the Italians lost their African colonies, that the French were allowed the freedom to send missionaries. [6]
Forty years after missionaries entered Chad the country gained independence from France under the leadership of President François Tombalbaye. His policies were far from popular with the Muslim north and a civil war began in 1965. [7] During this turmoil, Tombalbaye began his process of eliminating European influence and developing an African identity. He
renamed the capital to N’Djamena, which had formally been called Fort-Lamy,
changed his his first name to Ngarta, and forced all Muslim males to perform a
Muslim “initiation.” Churches were closed and believers persecuted. Thirteen Chadian pastors were executed. Next, he had missionaries outlawed. [8] Of course, nurses and doctors could stay. [9]
It was not until 1975, when Tombalbaye's regime was overthrown that churches were reopened and missionaries allowed to return. [10] In 1980, an estimated 80,000 Protestant Chadians were in Chad, with a total of 18,000 in N'Djamena, Chad's capital. In addition, 20,000 Chadians, both Christian and non-Christian, were attending Roman Catholic schools. [11]
In a 1993 census, it was confirmed that 20.1% of Chad's 6.542 million inhabitants were Catholics and 14.2 percent were Protestants. [12]
[1] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[2] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[3] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[4] "Chad", https://www.bmm.org/country/chad/
[5] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[6] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[7] "Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad
[8] "François Tombalbaye", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Tombalbaye
[9] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[10] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[11] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[12] "Religion Statistics by Country", http://www.religionfacts.com/religion_statistics/religion_statistics_by_country.htm
[13] "Francois Tombalbaye", http://www.africans.com/content/francois-tombalbaye-0.
American Baptists, the first denomination, had to work around the French administrations through the monetary support of home churches. [2] The first six missionaries were sent by the General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America. [3] Paul Metzler, one of the first, began five stations in the southeastern region. [4] They encouraged the new converts to give up their culture and folk religions and settle near Christian missions. They provided schools, clinics, and hospitals to Chadians before the French colonial administration did and produced Western-educated Chadians. [5]
Mission medical clinic |
When French Roman Catholics appeared in 1929, friction developed in Europe because the Vatican had previously placed Chad under Italian jurisdiction. Fearing a fight, France discouraged Catholic missionaries from going in and upsetting Italy. The Vatican supported this decision. It was not until after World War II, when the Italians lost their African colonies, that the French were allowed the freedom to send missionaries. [6]
The scars on Tombalbaye's face are traditional markings of his tribe [13] |
Catholic church in N'Djamena |
In a 1993 census, it was confirmed that 20.1% of Chad's 6.542 million inhabitants were Catholics and 14.2 percent were Protestants. [12]
[1] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[2] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[3] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[4] "Chad", https://www.bmm.org/country/chad/
[6] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[7] "Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad
[8] "François Tombalbaye", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Tombalbaye
[9] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[10] "Association of Baptist Churches of Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Chad.
[11] "Christianity in Chad", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Chad.
[12] "Religion Statistics by Country", http://www.religionfacts.com/religion_statistics/religion_statistics_by_country.htm
[13] "Francois Tombalbaye", http://www.africans.com/content/francois-tombalbaye-0.
Monday, February 23, 2015
An Empire One Thousand Years Old
Modern Kanembu Nomads |
Kanem Empire |
Kanem Flag |
Evolution of the Kanem-Bornu Empire |
Bornu Warriors in 1847 |
[1] "Culture of Chad", http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Chad.html#ixzz3SVEA63Y9.
[2] "Kanem Empire", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem_Empire.
[3] "Kanem-Barnu Empire", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem-Bornu_Empire.
[4] "Culture of Chad", http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Chad.html#ixzz3SVEA63Y9.
[5] "Kanem-Barnu Empire", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanem-Bornu_Empire.
[6] "Girgam", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girgam.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Friday the Thirteenth
The Chadian town after the attack |
On February 13, 2015, members of the terrorist
group Boko Haram stole across Lake Chad to attack a village. The group's focus
has centered around Niger and Nigeria, making this the first attack onto
Chadian soil. Although the Chadian
military responded, reports differ on how many villagers died (some say 5 [1] others say 10 [2]). This was the first Boko
Haram attack on Chad. [3]
Background
“Boko Haram” became common vocabulary in April of 2014,
when 276 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped and the majority held until October. [4] However, Boko Haram is much more
complex.
To begin with, Boko Haram is not the official name of
this group. The name is “Jama’atu Ahlis
Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad,” which means “Group of the People of Sunna for
Preaching and Jihad.” In turn, "Boko Haram" specifically means "Western Education is Forbidden." Its reaction
against Westernization is a repercussion of events from the 1960’s to
current. When the British colonizers
were pushed out of Nigeria, the country operated as a military dictatorship
from 1966-1999 (excluding a few years’ time when the country was
democratic). Religious violence was high
in the 1980’s as Islamic sects clashed, resulting in riots in the larger
cities. The country “stabilized” in
1999, but Nigeria has still dealt with social inequality, poverty, increasingly
radical Islam, and full hyper-renouncement of former British colonization. Out of this came what we refer to as Boko
Haram – a Wahhabi, Salafi, and fundamentalist sect. This radical group was founded by Mohammad
Yusuf in 2002 as a full rejection of Westernization, especially Western
education, and is connected with al-Qaeda and Iraq. Its goal is to create a fundamentalist Emirate state in Nigeria. [5]
Abubakar Shekau - from his February 16, 2015, video. |
Boko Haram grew quietly until 2009, when nine of its
members were captured and their bombs and weapons confiscated. The group launched a series of revenge attacks on
local police. By the end of July, 700
members of Boko Haram were dead and many state buildings, schools, and churches
had been burned. The founder, Mohammad
Yusuf, died in custody and another round of revenge attacks began under his
successor, Abubakar Shekau. Everything “snowballed”
for years with riots, bombings, IED’s, suicide bombers, and the bombing of a US
Embassy. One set of bombings occurred
hours after a 2011 presidential inauguration ceremony. The so-called “Christmas Day Bombings” of
2011 were a series of 115 coinciding attacks which killed 550 people. When a state of emergency was called in
Nigeria in 2012, Shekau responded with a statement giving southern Nigerians
three days to leave before he began many small-scale attacks on ethnic Igbo’s
and Christians. Within three weeks, 275
people were dead. And the attacks are continuing, creating thousands of displaced refugees. [6] (A timeline of events can be found here)
The World's Reaction
Refugees in Ngouboua |
Some of these refugees were accepted into Chad in the past six years from both the Central African Republic and Nigeria. The town of Ngouboua was particularly generous - it is reported that the village chief willingly shared all he had. This chief, Mai Koleye, was among the dead after Boko Haram's attack. [7] Officials say that thirty fighters crossed Lake Chad in three motarized canoes around three in the morning. [8] Houses were set on fire, police stations attacked, villagers and refugees - some who had fled from Baga only a month before - were killed. [9]
The Chadian attack set off a chain of major events. Monday, the 17th, representatives met in Cameroon's capital to plan the military cooperation of thirteen Central African states. A total of $100 million was pledged to help fight Boko Haram. [10]
That same day, Boko Haram attacked a Cameroon military camp. [11] Alongside of this attack, Abubakar Shekau released a video: "If you insist on continuing the aggression and coalition
with the government of Chad, then we give you glad tidings that the land of
Niger is easier than the land of Nigeria and moving the war to the depth of
your cities will be the first reaction toward an aggression that occurs after
this statement.” [12]
On the same day, the US backed a perennial counter-terrorism exercise. A combination of armies from twenty-eight African and Western countries went through a warm-up exercise (called "Flintlock") in preparation for an offensive against Boko Haram. The spokesman from Burkina Faso said “What we want is to learn to work together more effectively in fighting terrorism. With Boko Haram, we have found that a single state cannot do it.” [13]
Chadian soldiers during the "Flintlock" exercises |
UPDATE: "In Nigeria, Boko Haram Loses Ground to Chadians" - The New York Times.
Boko Haram Base Captured: Chad Taking Down Insurgents" - NAIJ.com (National Association of Independent Journalists - Nigeria)
[1] "Nigeria's Boko Haram Carries Out First Attack on Neighboring Chad". http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/nigerias-boko-haram-carries-out-first-attack-neighboring-chad-n305716
[2] "Boko Haram Killings Reported in Chad for First Time", Ben Mathis-Lilley. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/02/13/boko_haram_chad_attacks_spread_to_neighboring_country.html
[3] "Boko Haram Killings Reported in Chad for First Time", Ben Mathis-Lilley. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/02/13/boko_haram_chad_attacks_spread_to_neighboring_country.html
[4] "Boko Haram Fast Facts". http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/09/world/boko-haram-fast-facts/
[5] "Boko Haram". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram
[7] "With Attack, Boko Haram Makes Chad Its Target", Adam Nossiter. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/14/world/africa/boko-haram-carries-out-first-attack-in-chad.html?_r=0
[8] "Nigeria's Boko Haram Carries Out First Attack on Neighboring Chad". http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/nigerias-boko-haram-carries-out-first-attack-neighboring-chad-n305716
[9] "Boko Haram Killings Reported in Chad for First Time", Ben Mathis-Lilley. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/02/13/boko_haram_chad_attacks_spread_to_neighboring_country.html
[10] "Chad and Neighboring States Prepare to Take On Boko Haram". http://www.newsweek.com/chad-and-neighboring-states-prepare-take-boko-haram-307269
[11] "Chad and Neighboring States Prepare to Take On Boko Haram". http://www.newsweek.com/chad-and-neighboring-states-prepare-take-boko-haram-307269
[12] "Chad and Neighboring States Prepare to Take On Boko Haram". http://www.newsweek.com/chad-and-neighboring-states-prepare-take-boko-haram-307269
[13] "Chad and Neighboring States Prepare to Take On Boko Haram". http://www.newsweek.com/chad-and-neighboring-states-prepare-take-boko-haram-307269
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