It is one of the largest cities in the country and has within it the remnants of the ancient capital, including palaces, mosques, and the tombs of former sultans.Once one of the strongholds of the Arabic slave trade route, the city is known today for its markets, mosques, church, square (the Place de l'Indépendance) and for its sultan's palace.Abéché has several schools, a hospital, a university and is one of the major garrisons of the Armee Nationale du Tchad ANT .On 25 November 2006, the city was taken by the Union of Forces for Democracy, a rebel group that sought to depose president Idriss Déby.[3] On 30 October 2007, the city came to international attention when 17 French volunteers working for the charity Zoé's Ark were arrested there for alleged child abduction.