General information
Part of Conflict: Chad: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1982-09-28
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: GUNT leader Oueddei signalled his intention to “march on N’Djamena” almost instantly after Habré’s FAN captured the capital in June 1982. At a meeting between 26 and 28 September eight different factions opposed to President Habré, led by Oueddei, decided to unite their efforts in the struggle against “regionalist dictatorship”.
Date of first use of armed force: 1983-01-13
Comment on date of first use of armed force: In January 1983, heavy clashes involving the government and GUNT were reported from various areas of the country.
First Battle Related Death: 1983-01-12
Comment on First Battle Related Death: In January 1983, heavy clashes involving the government and GUNT were reported from various areas of the country.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1983-02-24
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Fighting between GUNT and government forces in Guoro in northern Chad on 20 February 1983, resulted in at least 120 deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1982
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (GUNT): n/a
1983
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): Government of France
Side B (GUNT): Government of Libya
1984
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): Government of France
Side B (GUNT): Government of Libya
1986
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): Government of France
Side B (GUNT): Government of Libya
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1982 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1983 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: During the spring of 1983, GUNT headed by former President Oueddei, gained ground in fighting against the government forces controlled by President Habré. It was reported that Libya supplied GUNT with military equipment and training but by the end of June, there had been no clear signs of Libyan troops participating in combat. The French President warned of a Libyan intervention and said that if this would occur, France would keep its promise to its former colony. During the first half of 1983, most of the fighting between the government and GUNT was concentrated to northern Chad, especially around the city of Faya Largeau.
International support for Habré’s government increased during 1983, and he received larger and larger amounts of military aid and assistance. In August, the first signs of direct Libyan involvement were reported from the fighting in Faya, in which 2000 Libyan troops and 3000 GUNT troops took part. France answered by sending a contingent of 500 paratroopers to Chad. It was announced that they would not participate in combat, but was sent to protect the front-line positions and were instructed to join in the fighting if the rebels advanced towards the capital. In September it was reported that France had sent 2500 troops, supported by combat aircraft to Chad to back the Habré government.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: In August President Habré said that he was ready to talk to Libya about ending the Chadian war but that he refused to meet with GUNT leader Oueddei. In September Oueddei offered Habré talks and said that he was willing to form a government together with him. Two months later, in November, it was reported that both Oueddei and Habré had agreed to set up round-table talks. These talks were allegedly planned to take place in Addis Ababa on 21 December, but no reports of an actual meeting between the warring parties appeared.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1984 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: 1984 saw a heavy foreign military presence with more than 3000 French troops and more than 4000 Libyan troops involved in battles in Chad. In September, France and Libya surprisingly announced that they had signed an agreement providing for the withdrawal of both of their forces from Chad. By November, most of the troops had left the country.
Several attempts at negotiations were made during 1984, neither of which resulted in an agreement. The question of which party would have the status as the country’s legal government caused several rounds of talks to collapse before the parties could discuss a solution to the conflict.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: Several attempts at negotiations were made during 1984, neither of which resulted in an agreement. The question of which party would have the status as the country’s legal government caused talks to collapse before the parties could discuss a solution to the conflict.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1984-12-31
Comment on Termination: Fighting between GUNT and the government did not cause 25 deaths in 1985
1986 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In March, there was renewed fighting, after last year’s lull. On 10 February, the government claimed that Libyan forces had attacked their positions at Kouba Olanga and heavy fighting followed in the area with Libyan troops joining in on the side of the rebels and French troops on the side of the government.
Reconciliation talks were planned to take place between GUNT and the government in Congo in late March, but were cancelled when GUNT, at the last minute, refused to attend. President Habré stated that it had become clear that negotiations had to be between him and Libya. When OAU renewed the mediation mandate for the Congolese President, Habré protested and said that he would not let either OAU or any head of state interfere in Chad’s internal affairs.
Towards the end of the year, fighting intensified as Libya started to support Ibn Oumar’s CDR, previously part of GUNT, instead of Ouddei and fierce fighting between the two former allies took place. Oueddei eventually sided with President Habré in the operations against CDR and Libya in northern Chad.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: Reconciliation talks were planned to take place between GUNT and the government in Congo in late March, but were cancelled when GUNT, at the last minute, refused to attend. President Habré stated that it had become clear that negotiations had to be between him and Libya. When OAU renewed the mediation mandate for the Congolese President, Habré protested and said that he would not let either OAU or any head of state interfere in Chad’s internal affairs.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Other
Date of termination: 1986-11-15
Comment on Termination: In late 1986, GUNT decided to join the government in their fight against CDR, a group that had broken away from GUNT in August. It is unclear if a ceasefire was formally agreed upon.
Comment on Termination Date: A statement from Habré on 15 November 1986 said that Oueddei\'s GUNT had joined the government in their fight against CDR and Libya. Oueddei confirmed that fighting between the parties had ceased. It is not possible to determine on which date GUNT switched sides so the date of Habré\'s statement is chosen as date of termination for this dyad.
