Translation and Localization for Africa: Republic of Chad

The Republic of Chad is a landlocked country in Central Africa. Chad shares borders with Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. Chad is the fifth largest country in Africa.

In this blog, I will cover some brief, but important facts for anyone looking to do business in or travel to the African country of Chad.

Chadian Demographics

• Chad is officially called the Republic of Chad.

• N’Djamena is the capital of Chad.

• People of Chad are called Chadian.

• The population is over 14.9 million.

• The median age is 17.6 years old.

• Chad has been inhabited since at least 500 B.C.

Chadian Languages

• Arabic and French are the official languages.

• Chadian Arabic is the lingua franca.

• There are over 100 languages and dialects spoken.

• Chad is known as “the Babel tower of the world” because of the number of languages spoken there.

Chadian Culture

• 50% of Chadians are Muslim, 35% are Christian and 15% are other.

• A handshake is the most common form of greeting for males and they always use their right hand. Women greet each other verbally, the same goes for men and women who greet each other.

• Chadians stand quite close to each other while speaking. There is greater distance between men and women during conversations.

• Dress is informal, but conservative.

• The main dishes are porridge made from millet and sorghum, red beans and sauces prepared with meat, fish and spices.

• It is necessary to carry identification at all times, failing to do so could result in detention by the police.

• Any photography requires a government permit. Even with a permit, taking pictures of military sites, official buildings and airports is strictly prohibited. But you cannot easily recognize those places and cameras can be confiscated by undercover police.

Chad’s Future

• Chad’s economic development suffers from being geographically remote, a lack of infrastructure and political turmoil.

• 85% of the population depends on the agriculture.

• The main industries in are oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, soap, cigarettes and construction materials.

• Natron and uranium are the primary minerals in Chad.

• The largest trading partners for Chad are the United States, France, Cameroon and China.

Summary

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world and has a very long way to go before becoming a fully developed country. Their poor transportation network negatively impacts the economy and tourism is also not well developed, since many people don’t consider Chad safe for travel.

Chad offers a unique cultural experience, but it has many political and economic battles to conquer before they can provide attractive opportunities for business or tourism.