Massenya

11°24′N 16°10′E / 11.400°N 16.167°E / 11.400; 16.167

Massenya ماسينيا
Massenya Location in Chad
Coordinates: 11°24′N 16°10′E / 11.400°N 16.167°E / 11.400; 16.167
Country	Chad
Region	Chari-Baguirmi Region
Department	Baguirmi
Sub-Prefecture	Massenya
Time zone	+1

Massenya (Arabic: ماسينيا) is a small town located in the central-western part of Chad. It is the capital of the Chari-Baguirmi province and of the department of Baguirmi. Founded in the first half of the 16th century, Massenya was also the historical capital of the Kingdom of Baguirmi and the seat of the Mbang, or Sultan.^{[nb 1]}

It lies in the northwest of the Massenya Plain, an important wetland in the Sahel, which has been under the protection of the Ramsar Convention since 2008, and also located on the banks of the Chari River.^[1] The town is served by Massenya Airport.

The town is divided into three districts. The Bagirmi district hosts the main market and the residence of the Bagirmi mbang. The Haussa district was founded by the Arab religious leader Gombo Mahamat Oumar Abakar, a close friend of Mbang Gaourang from Nigeria, who became the imam of the great mosque until his death. The Sara district contains the administrative buildings. The population is made up of various communities, including Sara, Fula, Bagirmi, Arab, Wadaï, Hadjarai, Bulala, Hausa, and Kanuri people.

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