Hello and welcome!
Today we will be discussing the 61st independence anniversary of the Republic of Chad. We will talk about the country’s problems and prospects. On the 11th of August 1960, Chad gained its independence from France. This year, the 61st independence anniversary, has been eventful. The country’s former ruler, Idriss Déby, who was the president for 30 years, was killed in April by rebel forces while he was visiting troops on the frontlines.
His son, Mahamat, in charge of a 15-member Transitional Military Council, took over the helm for the following 18 months, when he has promised free, fair and democratic elections will be held. But, although Chad is among the top 10 oil-producing countries in Africa, it was ranked 107th out of 107 countries on the Global Hunger Index in 2020. In 2019, the World Bank estimated that 66% of the population was living in poverty and 44% did not have access to clean drinking water.
So, what are Chad’s problems and what are its prospects?
Our guests are:
- Abba Gana Wakil Mahamadou, an expert in international relations and strategic studies; and
- Professor Khalifa Ali Dikwa, a commentator on the Lake Chad region.
