Masalit (autonym Masala/Masara; Arabic: ماساليت) is a Nilo-Saharan language of the Maban language group spoken by the Masalit people in Ouaddaï Region, Chad and West Darfur, Sudan.
Masalit, known as the Massalat, moved west into central-eastern Chad. Their ethnic population in Chad was 30,000 as of the 1993 census, but only 10 speakers of their language were reported in 1991.
Abéché (Arabic: أبشه, Absha) is a city in central-eastern Chad and the capital of the Ouaddaï Region. By road it is 749 kilometres (465 mi) northeast of the national capital of N'Djamena and 164 kilometres (102 mi) northwest of Adre, on the border with Sudan. Surrounded by savanna, it is one of the largest cities in the country. It has a rich Islamic heritage, situated along the trans-Saharan trade route and is an important cattle raising centre, with the principal market in the country for camel exports and rugs. As of 2012 it had a population of 76,492 people.
The city contains the remnants of the ancient capital, including palaces, mosques, and the tombs of former sultans. The Grand Mosque on the central square (the Place de l'Indépendance), is one of the oldest and most significant mosques in the country, built in the 19th century. The city is served by Abéché Airport and contains the Lycee Franco-Arabe school.