Chad
11 August 1960
- Sovereignty from
- France
- Marked as
- Independence Day
- Years sovereign
- 66
The struggle
Chad was the most neglected corner of French Equatorial Africa, valued mainly for cotton and conscripts — Chadian troops were the first to rally to Free France in 1940. Post-war politics pitted the southern-based PPT against northern and Muslim parties. Independence came on 11 August 1960 under François Tombalbaye.
Key people
Gabriel Lisette
1919–2001
Founded the PPT, the main nationalist party
François Tombalbaye
1918–1975
First president
Rabih az-Zubayr
1842–1900
Ruler who fought the French conquest until 1900
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