The History of Chad has witnessed many ups and down. Invasion and coups have all been a part of the country's history. History of Chad throws light on the development of the country down the ages.
Chad comprises of ancient settlements. These settlements were supplanted by the kingdoms of Kanem-Bornu, Baguirmi, and Ouaddai. From early 16th century to the next 300 years, slave trade was active in the area. Arab raiders provided slaves for European traders.
During the later 19th century, the French penetrated into the area and fought the Arab Muslim local leaders. Finally the region became a French governorship in the year 1905. However, it was not easy for the French to establish control over the region. After the invasion it took nearly another decade for French to establish complete dominance over Chad.
Chad became a colony within the French Equatorial Africa in 1920. Following the dissolution of FEA in 1950, Chad became a member of the French Community. It achieved full independence in 1960. Peace was destined to be short lived. A civil war five years later pitted the Muslim north and east against the southern-led government.
French assistance to suppress the hostilities proved unsuccessful. In an attempt to bring the dispute to a close a military coup took place in 1975. This proved to be ineffective. Despite some transient governmental compromises, civil war flared again in 1980.
Fearing large scale violence Libya was asked to help restore the peace. Peace was brought about in a very gingerly manner in the country. This too was short lived. Civil war broke out again in 1982. It was not until 1988 that the war was brought to an end. Though peace was agreed upon stability was still not in sight. The 1990s began with another attempt to change the system by force: General Idriss Deby threw out the ruling government, with the idea of setting up a multiparty democracy. Deby won elections that were held in 1996. The country remains desperately poor and underdeveloped industrially.
In the mid-1990s, Deby restored basic functions of government and entered into agreements with the World Bank and IMF to bring about substantial economic reforms. Even today the country is in the brink of uncertainty as it always has been.
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