Asia Capitals Quiz
Test your knowledge of Asian countries and their capital cities.
Chad
Capital: N’Djamena
N’Djamena, Chad’s capital on the Chari River near the border with Cameroon.
N’Djamena is the capital and largest city of Chad. It lies in the southwest of the country on the Chari River, near its confluence with the Logone and opposite Kousséri in Cameroon. The city concentrates Chad’s central government institutions and is also an important center for trade, transport, education, and services.
The city was founded in 1900 as Fort-Lamy, a French military and administrative post named after commander Amédée-François Lamy. Fort-Lamy remained the national capital when Chad became independent from France in 1960. In 1973, the city was renamed N’Djamena. It suffered heavy damage during fighting in 1979 and 1980 but remained the country’s political center.
Timeline of N’Djamena
1900: Fort-Lamy is established as a French military and administrative post.
1960: Chad gains independence from France, with Fort-Lamy continuing as the national capital.
1973: Fort-Lamy is renamed N’Djamena.
1979–1980: Fighting during Chad’s civil conflict causes extensive damage in the capital.
Today: N’Djamena remains the seat of Chad’s central government and the country’s largest urban center.
City and Country Data
Founded
1900
Official Languages
French and Arabic
Currency
Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Location
Southwestern Chad, on the Chari River near the Logone confluence and the Cameroon border.
Time Zone
West Africa Time (UTC+1)
Calling Code
+235
Driving Side
Right
Former Name
Fort-Lamy
Landmarks and Institutions
Our Lady of Peace Cathedral
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de la Paix is the Roman Catholic cathedral of N’Djamena. The cathedral inaugurated in 1965 incorporated forms inspired by local architecture, including an eastern façade whose outline recalls traditional Massa and Mousgoum dwellings. The building was badly damaged during fighting in 1980 and was later rebuilt and restored.
Grand Mosque of N’Djamena
The Grande Mosquée de N’Djamena is the country’s largest mosque and one of the capital’s main religious landmarks. Its complex also has educational and community functions.
National Museum of Chad
Established in 1962, the Musée National du Tchad holds archaeological, ethnographic, historical, paleontological, and cultural collections. Its exhibitions include material connected with the Sao civilization and Chad’s prehistoric heritage.
Geographic setting: N’Djamena stands close to the confluence of the Chari and Logone rivers. Across the international border, the Cameroonian city of Kousséri forms part of the same cross-border urban area.
N’Djamena’s Role in Chad
N’Djamena is the main seat of Chad’s national administration and a major transport and commercial node. Markets, government offices, universities, diplomatic missions, health services, and national cultural institutions are concentrated in the capital. Road connections from N’Djamena also link the city with other parts of Chad and with neighboring Cameroon.
The city’s modern urban form reflects periods of rapid population growth as well as reconstruction after conflict. Development extends well beyond the older central districts, so descriptions of N’Djamena can refer to different geographic boundaries, including the administrative city and the wider built-up area.
