Middle East 607
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Libya moved Soviet made fighter planes to its border with Sudan. As an
ally of Sudan, this caused Egypt great concern. Libya was likely to have wanted the
overthrow of the Sudanese president. Egypt’s President Mubarak asked the United
States for Air Force AWACS reconnaissance planes, and President Reagan sent them
on February 16, 1983. The US secretary of state said on February 20 that the threat
from Libya to Sudan had now “receded,” and the AWACS would be removed from
Egypt.
MID#3051
Dispute Number: 3051
Date(s): March 3, 1984 to April 9, 1984
Participants: 2 United States of America, 625 Sudan, 651 Egypt/530 Ethiopia, 620
Libya
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute began with a threat by Sudan to declare war on both Libya
and Ethiopia should they not work to control guerillas within their border. Libya fol-
lowed by attacking the Sudanese city of Omdurman, and Egyptian troops were moved
to the Libyan border following a speech by a Libyan official calling for a march on
Egypt. The United States moved AWACS forces to aid both Egypt and Sudan on
March 20. The last militarized action occurred when Egyptian military exercises took
place near the Libyan border on March 31. The AWACS forces withdrew most of
their planes on April 9.
Coding changes: Added to the dispute: 530 Ethiopia. Start Date changed from March
8, 1984. End Date changed from March 31, 1984.
620 LIBYA/651 EGYPT
MID#3175
Dispute Number: 3175
Date(s): August 4, 1975 to August 26, 1975
Participants: 651 Egypt/620 Libya
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Egypt disclosed the arrest of 30 members of a secret organization, whose
members were recruited and financed by Muammar el-Qaddafi. The group tried to
create unrest in Egypt so that Libya could annex Egypt’s Western Desert. Libya
responded by closing its borders to Egyptians.
Coding changes: End Date changed from October 12, 1975.