586 Chapter 5
483 CHAD/620 LIBYAMID#1337
Dispute Number: 1337
Date(s): September 9, 1976 to March 9, 1977
Participants: 620 Libya/483 Chad
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Libya expanded its borders to include the mineral rich Aouzou Strip
in northern Chad. Chad refused to cooperate with Libya until it withdrew from the
territory.
MID#3631
Dispute Number: 3631
Date(s): June 1977 to January 6, 1981
Participants: 620 Libya/220 France, 483 Chad
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: This dispute describes what is fundamentally a Libya-Chad conflict over
the Aouzou Strip that buffers their respective borders. In an opening session of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU), Chad charged that Libya had capitalized on
the civil war pitting the Chadian government against the rebel group Frolinat and
had seized part of the Aouzou Strip. Chad further alleged that Libya was providing
full support for the rebel group in order to undermine the Chadian government. Chad
momentarily suspended relations with Libya on February 6, 1978, though this was fol-
lowed by multiparty negotiations in Sabha that led to a ceasefire on March 28. Near the
end of the negotiations, the French intervened in Chad under the auspices of a defense
pact signed with the Chadian government. The ceasefire agreements were nullified in
mid-April as a result and clashes ensued through the rest of 1978, pitting the Chad-
ian government and French forces against the Chadian rebels and the Libyans. The
conflict took on another dimension when a schism between President Malloum and
Prime Minister Habre resulted in fighting between armed forces loyal to both leaders.
On March 20, 1979, France announced that it had decided to incrementally withdraw
its military personnel from Chad under these circumstances. While the French planned
withdrawal and coordinate some type of settlement for all parties involved in Chad,
Frolinat forces and the Libyan government continued its push farther south into Chad.
Internal dissension in Chad continued throughout 1979. A reconciliation plan signed
in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 21, led to a transitional government on November 10
that ultimately collapsed in March 1980.
The French started their total withdrawal on April 28, 1980, and completed it on
May 17. The infighting in Chad, complete with the capture of Faya-Largeau by Hab-
re’s Armed Forces of the North (FAN) forces on June 6, led Libya to make another
push into Aouzou Strip late in 1980. With Chad unable to administer the area, Libya
had little trouble in establishing posts in Dougia and Faya-Largeau by November.