Official name

République du Tchad

Form of state

Unitary republic

Legal system

Based on the Napoleonic Code; the 1989 constitution was suspended in December 1990; a new constitution was adopted by referendum in April 1996 and amended in June 2005

National legislature

National Assembly, with 188 members; elected by universal suffrage

National elections

A legislative election was held on February 13th 2011; a presidential election is due on April 3rd 2011

Head of state

President; re-elected by universal suffrage in May 2006

National government

The prime minister and Council of Ministers

Main political parties

Mouvement patriotique du salut (MPS; the ruling party); Fédération action pour la République (FAR); Viva-Rassemblement nationale pour le développement et le progrès (Viva-RNDP); Rassemblement pour la démocratie et le progrès (RDP); Union pour le renouveau et la démocratie (URD); Union nationale pour le développement et le renouveau (UNDR); Union pour la démocratie et la République (UDR); Parti pour la liberté et la développement (PLD); Alliance tchadienne pour la démocratie et le développement (ATD)

President: Idriss Déby

Prime minister: Emmanuel Nadingar

Key ministers

Agriculture & irrigation: Pahimi Padacké Albert

Civil service & employment: Abdoulaye Abakar

Communications: Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet

Defence: Bichara Issa Djadallah

Economy & planning: Mahamat Ali Hassan

Education: Assidick Abakar Tchoroma

Environment, water & fisheries: Hassan Térap

Finance & budget: Gata Ngoulou

Foreign affairs: Moussa Faki Mahamat

Health: Toupta Boguéna

Infrastructure & transport: Adoum Younousmi

Interior & territorial administration: Kedallah Younous Hamidi

Justice: Mbaïlaou Naïmbaye Lossimian

Livestock: Ahmat Rakhis Mannay

Microfinance & poverty reduction: Fathime Tchombi

Mines & geology: Maïtine Djoumbé

Oil & energy: Tabé Eugène

Planning & co-operation: Hamit Mahamat Dahalob

Public sanitation & good governance: Ahmadaye Al Hassan

Public security & immigration: Oumar Bukar Kadjallami

Telecommunications & post: Pahimi Padacke Albert

Tourism: Mahamat Allaou Tahar

Trade, industry & crafts: Youssouf Abbassalah

Governor of Banque des Etats de l'Afrique centrale

Lucas Abaga Nchama