The Chari or Shari River is a 949-kilometer-long river of central Africa, flowing from the Central African Republic through Chad into Lake Chad. Much of Chad's population, including the capital N'Djamena, is concentrated around it. It provides 90% of the water flowing into Lake Chad.

See also: Chari-Nile languages, Oubangui-Chari, Chari-Baguirmi, Moyen-Chari.