Event Chadian-Libyan conflict

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A series of conflictes between Libya and Chad caused by border disputes over the Aouzou stripe.

Chronology

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  • September 1987: The ceasefire left open the dispute over the Aouzou strip.
  • January 1987: In 1987, Chadian President Hissène Habré launched an offensive to retake the northern territories from Libyan forces. The attack on the heavily fortified Libyan communications base in Fada marked the beginning of Habré's successful reconquest of the region.
  • August 1978: On the night of August 27, 1978, Ahmat Acyl, leader of the Islamist faction of FROLINAT known as the Armée Volcan, attacked Faya-Largeau with the support of Libyan forces in what was an apparent attempt by Gaddafi to remove Goukouni from leading the movement.
  • September 1987: Chad's army also entered Libyan territory and destroyed three air bases in the southern Libyan desert.
  • June 1983: Faya-Largeau in northern Chad is occupied by Libyan forces.
  • November 1982: With Libyan support, Goukouni put the GUNT back on its feet by establishing itself in October in Bardaï.
  • August 1983: The GUNT-Libyan alliance invested the Faya-Largeau oasis.
  • November 1980: In early October, Libyan troops, led by Khalifa Haftar and Ahmed Oun, entered the Aouzou strip.
  • August 1983: In 1983, the GUNT forces, led by former Chadian President Goukouni Oueddei, advanced quickly towards the towns of Koro Toro, Oum Chalouba, and Abéché in Chad.
  • September 1987: Aouzou fell to the FANTs.
  • April 1987: Chadian assaults on B'ir Kora and Ouadi Doum.
  • July 1983: Goukouni's forces were defeated and Habré launched a vast counter-offensive which allowed him to retake Abéché, Biltine, Fada in rapid succession.
  • July 1983: Faya-Largeau conquered by Republic of Chad.
  • August 1983: The French government established a limit (Red Line) along the 15th parallel, from Mao to Abéché, and warned that it would not tolerate any incursions south of this line by Libyan or GUNT troops. Both the French and the Libyans remained on their side of the line, effectively dividing Chad in two.
  • December 1981: On October 29, Goukouni demanded the complete and unequivocal withdrawal of Libyan troops from Chadian territory, which, starting from the capital, was completed by December 31. The Libyans redeployed in the Aouzou strip.

1. Occupation of Aouzou Strip

Was the military invasion and occupation of the Aozou Stripe, in Chad, by Libyan forces.

  • July 1973: Tombalbaye broke diplomatic relations with Israel and is said to have secretly agreed on 28 November to cede the Aouzou Strip to Libya. In exchange, Gaddafi pledged 40 million pounds to the Chadian President and the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship in December 1972. Six months after the signing of the 1972 treaty, Libyan troops moved into the Strip and established an airbase just north of Aouzou, protected by surface-to-air missiles. A civil administration was set up, attached to Kufra, and Libyan citizenship was extended to the few thousand inhabitants of the area. From that moment, Libyan maps represented the area as part of Libya.

2. Ibrahim Abatcha offensive

Was a Libyan offensive against Chad that resulted in the occupation of northern Chad by Libyan forces.

  • February 1978: Ibrahim Abatcha offensive on 29 January 1978 against the last outposts held by the government in northern Chad: Faya-Largeau, Fada and Ounianga Kébir. The attacks were successful, and Oueddei and the Libyans assumed control of the BET Prefecture.