Sarh (Arabic: ساره), formerly known as Fort Archambault (French pronunciation:[fɔʁaʁʃɑ̃bo]), is the capital of the Moyen-Chari Region and the capital of the Department of Barh Köh in Chad. It is the third largest city in Chad, after N'Djamena and Moundou and lies on the Chari River, 563 kilometres (350mi) by road southeast of the capital city N'Djamena.
The city was founded as Fort Archambauld by Émile Gentil and the colonial authorities of French Chad, then part of French Equatorial Africa, in 1897, for returnees from the labour camps associated with the construction of the Congo-Ocean Railway. A significantly large textiles complex was constructed by the French in Fort Archambauld in 1967.
Sarh is located on the Chari River, 563 miles (906km) by road southeast of the capital city N'Djamena. It was named after the Sara people of southern Chad.
It is the third largest city in Chad, after N'Djamena and Moundou.
Climate
Like other parts of southern Chad and the East Sudanian savanna, Sarh has a typical tropical savanna climate (KöppenAw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average annual high temperature is 34.9°C (94.8°F), while the average annual low temperature is 20.9°C (69.6°F). The hottest time of year is from March to May, just before the wet season starts. March has the highest average high at 39.1°C (102.4°F), while the highest average low is 24.7°C (76.5°F) in April. August has the lowest average high at 30.6°C (87.1°F), while December has the lowest average low at 16.4°C (61.5°F).
Sarh receives 969.3 millimetres (38.16in) of rain over 86 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like most tropical savanna climates. December receives no precipitation at all, with almost no rain falling from November to March. August, the wettest month, receives 243.7 millimetres (9.59in) of rainfall on average. August also has 18 precipitation days on average, which is the most for any month. Humidity is much higher in the wet season than the dry season, with February having a humidity at 29% and August having a humidity at 82%. Sarh receives 2737.3 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed fairly evenly across the year, although it is lower during the wet season. December and January receive the most sunshine, while July receives the least.
Climate data for Sarh (1991-2020, extremes 1931-present)
Sarh is now a major transport hub. It is served by the Sarh Airport (IATA airport code SRH). It is a center for the cotton industry, due to its warm and seasonally wet climate. It is also an important center for commercial fishing in the Chari River. The industry has been threatened by overfishing in the area, and APRODEPIT is working in Sarh to make fishing sustainable.
The main market in Sarh is the Marché central de Sarh, an open-air market in the city centre which sells fresh fish, cotton, fruits and textiles. Small workshops can be found in the city which specialize in wood carving, weaving, and arts and crafts.
Landmarks
The city contains a Cathedral, which is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Sarh and the Grande Mosquée de Sarh. It also contains the Sarh National Museum.
12"Sarh". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
↑Bernard Lanne, Répertoire de l'administration territoriale du Tchad, 1900-1994, L'Harmattan, Paris, p. 163 ISBN2-7384-3600-5
↑Lengeler, C; Kessler, W; Daugla, D. "The 1990 meningococcal meningitis epidemic of Sarh (Chad): how useful was an earlier mass vaccination?". Acta Trop. 59: 211–22. doi:10.1016/0001-706x(95)00081-o. PMID7572427.
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