The region's northern border lies within the Aouzou Strip, historically a point of dispute between Chad and Libya.

[2] Faya-Largeau is the regional capital; other major settlements include Gouro, Kirdimi, Koro Toro and Yarda.

[5] As a part of decentralisation in February 2003, the country is administratively split into regions, departments, municipalities and rural communities.

[7] The historical region of Borku (French: Borkou) or Borgu (Borgou), mostly in Northern Chad, formed part of the transitional zone between the arid wastes of the Sahara and the fertile lands of central Sudan.

Gustav Nachtigal spent some time in it in the year 1871, and gave a valuable account of the region and its inhabitants in his book, Sahara and the Sudan (1879–1889).

The country, which had formerly been periodically raided by the Walad Sliman Arabs, was then governed by the Senussi, who had placed garrisons in the chief centres of population.

In 1907 a French column from Kanem entered Bourku, but after capturing Am Galakka, the principal Senussi station, retired.