Chad halts lake's world heritage status request over oil exploration

Exclusive: African state says it has agreements with oil companies in Lake Chad area

Chad has asked to suspend an application for world heritage site status for Lake Chad to explore oil and mining opportunities in the region, it can be revealed.

In a letter leaked to the Guardian, Chad's tourism and culture minister wrote to Unesco, the body which awards the world heritage designation, asking to postpone the process of registering Lake Chad on the world heritage list".