General information
Part of Conflict: Chad - Nigeria
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1983-04-18
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The border between Nigeria and Chad had since both countries independence been undemarcated. The countries share an eighty-five-kilometer border through Lake Chad. Due to drought the water level of Lake Chad dropped drastically in the 1970s. Fishermen kept following the receding waters as the lake shrunk to about one-tenth of its original size. The incompatibility Between Nigeria and Chad concerned a number of new islands that emerged in Lake Chad as the water level receded.
Date of first use of armed force: 1983-04-18
Comment on date of first use of armed force: On 18 April 1983 24 Nigerian soldiers were sent to Kinsara Islands to protect Nigerian fishermen. Chad considered this a violation of their borders and attacked the Nigerian soldiers the same day.
First Battle Related Death: 1983-04-18
Comment on First Battle Related Death: On 18 April 1983 24 Nigerian soldiers were sent to Kinsara Islands to protect Nigerian fishermen. Chad considered this a violation of their borders and attacked the Nigerian soldiers the same day killing nine Nigerian soldiers.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1983-04-24
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Between 18-24 April 1983 9 Nigerian soldiers and 75 Chadian soldiers were reportedly killed in the border conflict between Chad and Nigeria.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1983
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 26 |
| Best | 26 |
| Low | 1 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (Government of Nigeria): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Chad-Nigeria Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1983-07-11
Comment of peace agreement: Partial peace agreement
On 11 July 1983 (according to some sources the agreement was signed on 2 July) a partial peace agreement was signed at Abuja, Nigeria.
The agreement provided for a military disengagement of forces and the re-establishment of a mixed border frontier patrol.
The incompatibility would be resolved through the setting up of a joint commission which would work together with the Chad Basin Commission to demarcate the border between Chad and Nigeria.
The agreement also provided for the reopening of the border, and exchange of prisoners and the establishment of a Chadian consulate in Maiduguri.
Signatories: Nigerian President Shehu Shagari and
Chadian President Hissen Habre
1995
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Best | 5 |
| Low | 5 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (Government of Nigeria): n/a
1998
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 4 |
| Best | 4 |
| Low | 4 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (Government of Nigeria): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1983 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Talks between Chad and Nigeria were held on 5-7 May 1983 in Lagos. During the talks the countries agreed to withdraw all soldiers, reopen the border and revive the joint border Patrol. The Lake Chad Basin Commission would study the border question and a Chadian consulate would be opened in the Nigerian town Maiduguri.
New shelling heightened the tension between the two neighbors.
Negotiations resumed on 2 July 1983, an agreement comprising the provisions agreed upon in May, was signed on 11 July formally ending the border dispute between the two countries.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Peace Agreement
Date of termination: 1983-07-11
Comment on Termination: The conflict was terminated on 11 July 1983 when Chad and Nigeria concluded an agreement in which they agreed to withdraw all soldiers, reopen the border and revive the joint border Patrol. The Lake Chad Basin Commission would study the border question and a Chadian consulate would be opened in the Nigerian town Maiduguri.
1995 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1998 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
