General information
First Active Year: 1976
Current Name: FAN
Current Name full English: Armed Forces of the North
Current Name full native language: Forces armées du nord
Original Name: FAN
Original Name full English: Armed Forces of the North
Original Name full native language: Forces armées du nord
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Broke Away from Actor: Second Liberation Army (Second Liberation Army)
On: 1976-12-31
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1976
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
1977
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
1979
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
1980
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
1981
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
1982
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Chad - FAN
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1976 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North
Comment on Active: In 1976, the Second Liberation Army, which had been active in the conflict in the early 1970s, split into two factions; FAN (Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North), under the leadership of Hissène Habré, and FAP (Forces armées populaires, People’s Armed Forces) under the leadership of Goukouni Oueddei.
Troop Size: 1200
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that FAN consisted of 1200 poorly armed men.
1977 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North
Troop Size: 1200
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that FAN consisted of 1200 poorly armed men
1979 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North. The group originates from a split in the Second Liberation Army in 1976, which itself was created from a split in Frolinat in 1971.
Comment on Active: In the beginning of 1979, FAN was part of the government and its leader Habré was Prime Minister. In mid-February, FAN turned against President Malloum and launched attacks in the capital N’Djamena.
Troop Size: 1000
Comment on Troop Size: In February it was reported that Habré controlled 1000 well-quipped men.
Secondary Support: FAN received arms supplies from the US via Sudan and Egypt. Sudan also provided the rebels with sanctuary.
1980 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North. The group originates from a split in the Second Liberation Army in 1976, which itself was created from a split in Frolinat in 1971.
Troop Size: 1000
Comment on Troop Size: In 1979 it was estimated that FAN controlled 1000 well-equipped troops.
Secondary Support: FAN received arms supplies from the US via Sudan and Egypt. Sudan also provided the rebels with sanctuary.
1981 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North. The group originates from a split in the Second Liberation Army in 1976, which itself was created from a split in Frolinat in 1971.
Troop Size: 1000
Secondary Support: FAN received arms supplies from the US via Sudan and Egypt and also weapons directly from Sudan and Egypt. Sudan also provided the rebels with sanctuary and training. France announced in July that they would end the covert assistance to Habre, thus reveling that they had secretly supported FAN.
1982 Group Archive
Government of Chad - FAN
Comment on Name: Forces armées du nord, Armed Forces of the North. The group originates from a split in the Second Liberation Army in 1976, which itself was created from a split in Frolinat in 1971.
Comment on Active: After several towns had fallen to Habré’s forces, he finally took N’Djamena on 7 June. On 19 June Habré declared himself interim head of state.
In October, Habré was sworn in as President and announced his government. In an attempt to end the fighting in Chad, only one third of the members were drawn from FAN, while the rest were members of other factions.
Troop Size: 1000
Secondary Support: FAN received arms supplies from the US via Sudan and Egypt and also weapons directly from Sudan and Egypt. Sudan also provided the rebels with sanctuary and training. In 1982, arms supplies from the US were worth $10 million, but FAN is considered the government side from 7 June and it is unclear how much of the aid was given before that date. FAN also received some French aid after February 1981, most likely advisors.
