Talk to Al Jazeera

Idriss Deby

The president of Chad in conversation with Hashem Ahelbarra.

Chad has been independent for 50 years but the country is still grappling with instability and internal conflicts.

The situation is exacerbated by the crisis in Darfur which caused an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees into Chad.

Chad and Sudan have had strained ties over the past five years, with Chad accusing Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust its government and Khartoum charging Ndjamena with backing ethnic minority rebels in western Darfur.

Idriss Deby, Chad’s president, came to power in a military coup in 1990, after toppling Hissene Habre, the former president, with the support of the French secret service.

He talks about the tense relation with Sudan, peace in Darfur, this year’s crucial elections, human rights, oil production, and the future of a country crippled by wide-spread corruption.

Talk to Jazeera: Idriss Deby can be seen from Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 1400; Wednesday: 0300, 2330; Thursday: 0630.