Sudanese Defense Agreement with EgyptFor the German Democratic Republic:
[ERICH HONECKER]
[WILLY STOPH]4.1398 Mutual Defense Agreement between
Sudan and Uganda
Alliance Members:Sudan and Uganda
Signed On:June 28, 1972, in the city of Khartoum (Sudan). In force
until April 11, 1979.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,June 1972.
SUMMARY
Sudan was embroiled in a civil war of north against south from 1955
to 1972. Ugandan leaders had viewed the Sudanese struggle as Arab
against African and favored the southern Sudanese. Even Idi Amin, the
Ugandan dictator who took power in a military coup d’état in 1971,
had ethnic ties to the region.
After the settlement of the civil war in March of 1972, Sudan and
Uganda signed this agreement of mutual defense against external
aggression. Relations were relatively quiet until 1976 when Amin
claimed that parts of Kenya and southern Sudan were traditional parts
of Uganda. Amin was forced to back down after Kenya mobilized
troops and armored personnel carriers.
In April of 1979, Amin was overthrown, and Amin’s supporters and
200,000 Ugandan refugees fled to southern Sudan. Idi Amin fled to
Saudi Arabia.
Description of Terms
Each country pledged to give military assistance to the other if
either were to suffer “aggression” by any external enemies,
including “imperialists” or “Zionists.”
4.1399 Defence and Security Treaty between
Niger and Libya
Alliance Members:Niger and Libya
Signed On:March 9, 1974, in the cities of Tripoli (Libya) and Niamey
(Niger). In force until January 13, 1981.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,March 1974.
SUMMARY
During the 1970s Libya engaged in numerous alliances with African
nations in an attempt to forge regional co-operation and Libyan influ-
ence over that co-operation. Niger was an ideal ally in light of this pol-
icy, as it was seeking to increase security and trade within the region,
while Libya was trying to increase the number of its trading partners.
Despite the alliance, however, bilateral relations remained troubled.
President Hamani Diori of Niger was overthrown in a coup d’état led
by Seyni Kountche in the year after this alliance was formed, and
Kountche quickly denied access to a top Libyan official and
denounced Libyan interference. Soon after, Kountche survived a coup
attempt that was linked to Libya. Nevertheless, the alliance continued
for several more years, and Niger even sent uranium to Libya. By 1981,
Libyan interference in Chad proved intolerable to the Niger govern-
ment, which froze its relations with Libya.Description of Terms
Each country pledged to give military assistance to the other if
external enemies, “Zionists,” or “imperialists” showed any
“aggression” toward one of the alliance partners.4.1400 Agreement between Algeria and Libya
Alliance Members:Algeria and Libya
Signed On:December 28, 1975, in the city of Hassi Messaoud (Alge-
ria). In force until August 13, 1984.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Keesing’s Record of World Events,January 1977.SUMMARY
On December 11, 1975, President Houari Boumediene of Algeria and
Colonel Mu ̨ammar Gadhafi of Libya met and declared their interests
to be identical. Seventeen days later, during a second meeting, the two
leaders issued a joint statement outlining a defense pact between the
countries. Following the meeting, President Boumediene recalled the
Algerian ambassador from Rabat, Morocco, and both Morocco and
Algeria sent troops to their borders in anticipation of conflict. Ten-
sions abated, but the links between Libya and Algeria proved worri-
some for Morocco, which continued to struggle with Algeria over con-
trol of Western Sahara. Libya played a key part in the bilateral rivalry
with its change in policy, manifested by its signature of the Oujda
Union with Morocco (see Alliance no. 4.1431), prompting Algeria to
renounce this agreement.Description of Terms
A joint communiqué released by both leaders stated that “any
attack carried out against either of the revolutions will be con-
sidered by the other as an attack against itself.” The two coun-
tries also pledged to create institutional links to foster addi-
tional cooperation. Future meetings were also agreed to.4.1401 Sudanese Defense Agreement with
Egypt
Alliance Members:Sudan and Egypt
Signed On:July 15, 1976, in the city of Cairo. In force until June 10,
1989.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Foreign Broadcast Information Service—Middle East Area,July
22, 1976, p. D1.