Chad+Stability

Discussion:
>>> Not much has changed since the oil project started, but Basswa is happy that the village has a new school and several water pumps, thanks to China National Petroleum. "Like everyone, we just want the best future for our kids," he says. >> In the future, China will advance agricultural cooperation with Africa in all respects while ensuring that this cooperation puts both parties on an equal footing, is mutually beneficial, and advances common development.
 * Politics:
 * Deby's army is reputed to be the best trained and best equipped in sub-Saharan Africa. This is largely due to the income from oil production which began 10 years ago.
 * "From a foreign policy perspective, the oil money has helped Deby expand his military might," said Helga Dickow from the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute of Freiburg University. "Within Chad it has helped him expand his political power. The government has access to the entire oil income and can use it, for example, for electioneering purposes."
 * However, UN Development Index Chad currently occupies position 184 out of a total of 187 states
 * Life expectancy in Chad is put at 50 years, only one in three adults can read and write and 62 percent of the population of 11 million live on less than one euro ($1.3) a day
 * The new oil wealth, and continued foreign aid, has provided the resources needed to reward friends and buy weapons to use against enemies. For dictator and president-for-life Deby, life is good.
 * Village People:
 * I don't understand how the oil is being extracted on my doorstep, yet by the time it reaches me it's more expensive than before!" says Abangar Basswa, a resident of Koudalwa, reflecting local people's frustration that the cost of bringing refined fuel back to the Bongor region in tankers along rough roads means that any benefit from its original, cheaper price has been lost.
 * Environment:
 * Chad suspends Chinese oil company for environmental violations. >>
 * CNPC's local unit has explored for oil in Chad since 2009 and also operates a refinery in the central African country.
 * "Not only did they not have equipment to clean up oil that spilled out, but they intentionally let it spill in order to cut costs," said the minister.
 * Economy
 * At the same time, China has sent technical groups and several hundred technicians to Africa to provide policy consulting, teach practical techniques and train local staff. With China's aid in a project to breed high-yield and high-quality crop varieties, Chad sees its yields grow by over 25% on over 500 hectares planted with improved varieties, and several thousand farmers trained.