Chad Independence Day: History and Significance of the Day

Chad Independence Day is celebrated every year on August 11. The country acquired autonomy in 1960 after it was colonized by France during the 1890s through a military quest. Chad is a landlocked country with gold and uranium as its regular assets, it is bordered by the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Libya, Niger, and Sudan. After independence, Francois Tombalbaye was Chad’s first president.

The country was faced with many difficulties after its independence, which finished in culminated in a civil war in 1965 following a tax revolt. In 1975 Tombalbaye was killed during a coup. Civil war followed in 1979 and endured for three years. Be that as it may, this was not the finish of the country’s struggle.

French forces initially started assuming command over what is presently Chad in the 1890s. From the start, Chad was not a different French colony but rather a part of “Equatorial Africa”. In 1920, it was isolated, notwithstanding.

During the Second World War, Chad stood with Free France rather than with the Vichy puppet state. After the war, Chad was given restricted local powers of self-government. In 1946 and 1958, considerably more powers were conceded, however, Chad was as yet not really independent.

It was exclusively on 11 August 1960, after a long, undying desire and political exertion for independence, that France, at last, granted Chad full autonomy.

What is the significance of Independence Day in Chad?

In 1913, France retained the Kingdoms of the Kanem-Bornu, Baguirmi, and Ouaddai, which were ruled by Sudanese conqueror Rabih al-Zubayr. These formed the colony of French Equatorial Africa and a region of Ubangi-Shari (Central African Republic).

The fight between Rabih and the French troops over these kingdoms left Rabih dead, and the French reinstated the traditional sultanate of the Kanembu dynasty. They laid out a protectorate over modern-day Chad. Chad officially turned into a French colony during the 1920s.

World War II changed the political climate in France and in different parts of the world, and as a part of the sweeping political changes, Chad turned into an abroad French territory in 1946. By 1957, some autonomy was conceded to Chad, and in November 1958 it turned into a self-government territory inside the French community.

After two years on August 11, 1960, Chad acquired its full independence under the leadership of Francois Tombalbaye, who turned into the country’s first president.

What does the flag of Chad represent?

The flag of Chad was embraced in 1959. The flag design is impacted by the French tricolor flag and the Pan-African colors were taken on. Afterward, the flag was adjusted by supplanting green with a blue color.

The present-day flag is made of three vertical stripes of equivalent size; the band to the hoist side is blue, the middle band is yellow and the one to the right is red.

The blue stripe represents the sky, hope, and waters of the country, the yellow stripe symbolizes the sun and the deserts of northern Chad; and the red strip epitomizes sacrifice and the blood shed by the heroes who battled for its opportunity. The red strip of the flag likewise symbolizes unity, progress, and development of the country.

Who wrote the national anthem of Chad?

La Tchadienne, which signifies “People of Chad” was embraced as the country’s national anthem in 1960. It was written by Louis Gidrol, and the music of the anthem was composed by Paul Villard.