Chad
Chad
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Population
- 16,425,859
- Region
- Africa
- Languages
- French, Arabic
The Ennedi Massif is an ancient sandstone plateau that contains thousands of years of human history through elaborate rock art. This natural fortress houses unique crocodiles that have survived in desert oases since the region was much wetter. These 'relict' crocodiles are smaller than their Nile ancestors and represent an incredible biological adaptation to the drying Sahara desert.
Currency
The official currency is the Central African CFA franc, identified by the ISO code XAF. It was originally established in 1945 by the French government to provide financial stability to its African territories after the conclusion of World War II.
Flag symbolism
The vertical tricolor of blue, yellow, and red was inspired by the French Tricolour but replaced white with yellow to represent the sun and the desert. The blue stripe stands for the sky and the hope of the nation's waters, specifically southern rainfall. Red symbolizes the sacrifice and blood shed by the people in their struggle for independence and national progress.
Emblem history
The national coat of arms, adopted in 1970, features a shield supported by a goat and a lion, representing the northern mountains and the southern wildlife. A centered sunburst signifies a new beginning, while the shield is marked with blue wavy lines to represent Lake Chad. Below the shield hangs a medal of the National Order of Chad, and the state motto 'Unité, Travail, Progrès' is displayed on a scroll.