Anakaza
Encyclopedia
The Anakaza are a Chad
ian tribe of the Toubou
Daza
people. One of the largest of Daza subgroups, they are a nomadic people traditionally employed in camel
-herding. They are mostly located in the Sahara
n region of Borkou in northern Chad, they can be found in a vast area from Faya-Largeau
to Kirdimi and nomadizing an area which goues from Oum Chalouba to the Djourab and Mortcha. Their name literally means, according to Marie Lebeuf, "the mixed people".
The Anakaza trace a common ancestry from Bouttou and tell of having reached Borkou twelve generations ago moving from Oum Chalouba. Divided among 19 clans, in turn segmented in about thirty factions, the Anakaza were deeply beset by blood feud
s and internal strifes. Considered virtually ungovernable, they had fought in the 19th century the Ouled Sliman Arabs and the Senoussiya, and had remained substantially outside of the French colonial administration
in the 20th century.
In modern times out of its ranks was born Hissène Habré
, president of Chad
between 1982 and 1990, who during his tenure in office gave the key positions to his fellow Daza, favouring among the latters his subgroup. The Anakaza also formed the bulk of his élite unit, the Presidential Guard.
Another prominent Anakaza is the current rebel leader Mahamat Nouri
. Due to his rebellion in 2006 against the Chadian President Idriss Déby
, the government began exploiting the long standing rivalities among the Anakaza and another Daza subgroup, the Kamaya, originally a semi-servile caste.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian tribe of the Toubou
Toubou
The Tubu are an ethnic group that live mainly in northern Chad, but also in Libya, Niger and Sudan....
Daza
Daza
The Daza people are a semi-nomadic ethnicity living primarily in the Sahara regions of south-eastern Niger and north and central Chad. They consider themselves a warrior people, and are almost entirely Muslim. The Daza speak the Dazaga language. The increasing desertification of Africa has resulted...
people. One of the largest of Daza subgroups, they are a nomadic people traditionally employed in camel
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
-herding. They are mostly located in the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n region of Borkou in northern Chad, they can be found in a vast area from Faya-Largeau
Faya-Largeau
Located in the Sahara, Faya's climate is classed as hot desert on the Köppen climate classification. It experiences hot winters and very hot summers with the peak average maximum temperature reaching in May and the average minimum reaching its lowest in January at . Rainfall averages out at about...
to Kirdimi and nomadizing an area which goues from Oum Chalouba to the Djourab and Mortcha. Their name literally means, according to Marie Lebeuf, "the mixed people".
The Anakaza trace a common ancestry from Bouttou and tell of having reached Borkou twelve generations ago moving from Oum Chalouba. Divided among 19 clans, in turn segmented in about thirty factions, the Anakaza were deeply beset by blood feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
s and internal strifes. Considered virtually ungovernable, they had fought in the 19th century the Ouled Sliman Arabs and the Senoussiya, and had remained substantially outside of the French colonial administration
Colonial Chad
Chad was a part of the French colonial empire from 1900 to 1960. Colonial rule under the French began in 1900 when the Military Territory of Chad was established. From 1905, Chad was linked to the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, known from 1910 under the name of French...
in the 20th century.
In modern times out of its ranks was born Hissène Habré
Hissène Habré
Hissène Habré , also spelled Hissen Habré, was the leader of Chad from 1982 until he was deposed in 1990.-Early life:...
, president of Chad
Heads of state of Chad
-List of Heads of State of Chad:-Affiliations:-External links:**...
between 1982 and 1990, who during his tenure in office gave the key positions to his fellow Daza, favouring among the latters his subgroup. The Anakaza also formed the bulk of his élite unit, the Presidential Guard.
Another prominent Anakaza is the current rebel leader Mahamat Nouri
Mahamat Nouri
General Mahamat Nouri is a Chadian insurgent leader who currently commands the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development . A Muslim from northern Chad, he began his career as a FROLINAT rebel, and when the group's Second Army split in 1976 he sided with his kinsman Hissène Habré...
. Due to his rebellion in 2006 against the Chadian President Idriss Déby
Idriss Déby
General Idriss Déby Itno is the President of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Déby is of the Bidyat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. He added "Itno" to his surname in January 2006.-Rise to power:...
, the government began exploiting the long standing rivalities among the Anakaza and another Daza subgroup, the Kamaya, originally a semi-servile caste.