SUMMARY
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad has had a tumultuous history of violence and political instability. The country endured the rule of several dictators, including François Tombalbaye and Hissène Habré, whose oppressive regimes were characterized by human rights abuses and civil unrest. The first civil war, which lasted from 1979 to 1987, further exacerbated tensions and left deep scars on the nation. The death of Idriss Déby in 2021, who had been in power since 1990, marked a significant turning point in Chad's history, raising concerns about the country's future stability and the potential for further turmoil in the region.
2025
In 2025, there was a slight decrease in the level of organized violence compared to 2024. Non-state violence was the deadliest category of organized violence, mainly driven by farmers-herders’ conflicts. The state-based violence on Chadian territory during 2025 was part of the conflict between the Government of Nigeria and JAS. Chad, being a member of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) established by the Lake Chad Basin countries, is a secondary warring party in the conflict over government power.
Throughout the year, violent communal disputes and ethnic clashes were prevalent in Chad. The non-state conflict between the loosely organized nomadic herders and sedentary farmers continued in 2025, although on lower levels compared to previous year. The violence remained centered in the southern parts of Chad and was characterized by tit-for-tat violence between the two groups. Clashes often concern land disputes, grazing rights, and ethnic affiliations. In May and June, clashes related to a non-state conflict over land issues of grazing and farming areas between the ethnic Fulani and Ngambay groups erupted in the Logone Occidental province, resulting in at least 69 fatalities.
The recorded one-sided violence was carried out by JAS. The group targeted smaller localities in the Lake Chad area which is a known stronghold of the armed group.
Ethnic dynamics and political turmoil
Ever since gaining independence from France in 1960 through a process of peaceful disassociation, Chad has been deeply affected by a tumultuous political landscape, characterized by a blend of authoritarian rule, civil wars, and periodic democratic transitions.
Similar to its neighbor Sudan, Chad grapples with a profound north-south divide, which intersects with religious and ethnic fault lines. The divide, roughly aligning with Muslim-Christian and Arab-African distinctions, has been a recurring theme in the nation's political discourse. While it does not solely account for Chad's civil conflicts, it undeniably influences its socio-political landscape. Tensions stemming from these divisions often escalate into clashes between different ethnic and religious groups, exacerbating the nation's internal strife.
Following independence, power dynamics within Chad became heavily skewed towards the southern regions, where political dominance was concentrated in the hands of southern-led parties. This resulted in the marginalization of the northern region, exacerbating feelings of disenfranchisement among its predominantly Muslim population.
Following independence, Chad experienced decades of instability under the leadership of President François Tombalbaye, who established a single-party state and consequently faced numerous rebellions from marginalized ethnic groups. Tombalbaye’s rule was marred by repression and economic mismanagement, exacerbating social tensions within the country. The southern-led government instigated a campaign of marginalization of the northern region which ultimately led to the northern part of the country initiating the first episode of Chad’s lengthy intrastate conflict.
Intrastate conflicts and external interventions
From 1965 to 1981, Chad was embroiled in a succession of intrastate conflicts involving various rebel movements vying for control. The heads of state shifted throughout the conflict period and saw both military and rebel leaders in power. The conflict grew in intensity and geographical scope over the years and took a new turn in 1982 when Hissén Habré came to power, then leader of the rebel group FAN (Forces armées du Nord, Armed Forces of the North). However, the leadership change did little to alleviate tensions in the country, as opposition groups continued to challenge his rule, perpetuating the cycle of violence and instability.
External actors, notably Libya, played a significant role in exacerbating these conflicts by providing support to certain rebel factions. Chad's tumultuous history also includes interstate conflicts, notably with Libya over the Aozou Strip in 1975 and with Nigeria over territorial disputes in Lake Chad in 1983. These conflicts underscored Chad's vulnerability to external pressures and its role in shaping regional power dynamics. Additionally, Chad's involvement in providing secondary warring support to neighboring states, such as DRC and Sudan, further entangled it in regional unrest, complicating efforts to achieve stability.
Despite initial successes in stabilizing the country, Habré’s regime eventually collapsed in the face of mounting internal and external pressure, paving the way for the rise of General Idriss Déby who seized power in a coup in 1990. Déby promised democratic reforms but ultimately consolidated power through a combination of repression and patronage. His rule characterized by corruption and nepotism, faced intermittent challenges from rebel groups and opposition forces. While Chad has experienced periods of relative stability and economic growth, political repression and insecurity continue to plague the country, undermining prospects for long-term development and democracy.
Persistent intrastate conflict
Déby ruled the country from 1990 until his death in 2021. The intrastate conflict continued under Déby’s rule with new rebel groups opposing the government during the 1990s. A series of peace agreements was signed mainly between 1994 and 2002 which led to several armed groups giving up their rebellion. A short period of calm ensued but the conflict flared up again in 2005, this time with clear links to the armed conflict in neighboring Sudan’s Darfur region. The flare-up highlighted the interconnected nature of regional conflicts and their impact on Chad's internal dynamics.
Throughout the 2010s, Chad experienced a complex web of armed conflict and political instability, exacerbated by regional tensions and the proliferation of rebel movements. The government's attempts to quell dissent often escalated tensions, leading to cycles of violence and retaliation. Rebel groups, including the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) and the Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD), continued to challenge Déby's rule, exploiting ethnic and regional grievances to garner support and destabilize the government.
The conflict landscape was further complicated by the spillover effects of neighboring conflicts, particularly in the Sahel region, where jihadist groups gained ground, exploiting ungoverned spaces and porous borders. Chad's involvement in regional peacekeeping efforts, particularly in Mali and the Lake Chad Basin, strained its military resources and diverted attention from domestic challenges. Meanwhile, the government's reliance on authoritarian tactics, including censorship and crackdowns on civil liberties, deepened popular discontent and eroded trust in state institutions.
The death of President Idriss Déby in April 2021, amidst ongoing conflict with rebel forces, triggered a swift and dramatic political shift in Chad. Déby, who had ruled the country for over three decades, succumbed to injuries sustained while leading troops against insurgents just one day after provisional election results showed him winning a contested sixth term in office. His passing led to the dissolution of the government and parliament by the military, which declared a state of emergency and formed a Transitional Military Council (CMT). At the helm of this council was Déby’s son, General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who assumed the role of president. The military's actions were framed as necessary for ensuring stability and security in the face of the rebel threat, although they drew criticism both domestically and internationally for their implications on Chad's democratic processes.
In 2023, the Chadian government was fiercely challenged by the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR), in a conflict over governmental power. CCMSR has been clashing with the government since 2016, but the conflict reached an all-time high in 2023 with a recorded 61 fatalities. The deadliest clash took place on 9 September 2023, when CCMSR stormed a military post in the Tibesti region killing 6 soldiers but were quickly repelled by the Chadian military which killed 29 militants.
Pre-1989 conflicts
Before 1989, UCDP has recorded three state-based conflicts in Chad; one intrastate conflict over governmental power, and two interstate conflicts over territory.
The Chadian civil war, spanning from 1965-1979, involved several different rebel groups fighting against the Chadian government. The rebel groups mainly fought with support from the Government of Libya. The roots of the conflict are many but can be traced back to President Francois Tombalbaye’s ban on opposition parties in 1962. This triggered civil unrest and led to the formation of various opposition movements.
Several large-scale revolts took place during 1965 which was violently clamped down by the government. Subsequently, in June 1966, several opposition groups formed the National Liberation Front of Chad (FROLINAT) led by Ibrahim Abatcha. The FROLINAT capitalized on the widespread discontent and was able to recruit many members. After Muammar Gaddafi took power in Libya in 1969, FROLINAT began receiving training and military equipment from Gaddafi who saw the group as a tool for gaining territorial power in the region. After having trained FROLINAT, Gaddafi laid an official claim on the Aozou strip, a deserted area on Libya’s southern border with Chad that was rich in uranium.
Following internal divisions and a failed coup in 1971, Chad cut all diplomatic ties with Libya. As a response, Libya officials recognized the Chadian insurgents as the de facto government of Chad and increased the country’s material support to the rebels. The first phase of the armed conflict later came to an end due to mediation efforts by France and Niger in August 1972.
Yet, political dissent persisted in the Chadian society with Tombalbaye still in power. Following a successful coup in 1975, Félix Malloum came to power. Malloum argued that his predecessor had done too little to stand up to Libya and further denounced the Libyan occupation of the Aouzou strip. This made Gaddafi resume his supplying of the rebels and the conflict entered a second phase.
However, many of the rebels were somewhat suspicious of Gaddafi after having exiled them after the peace deal in 1972. FROLINAT thus splintered with the People’s Armed Forces (FAP) which remained loyal to Gaddafi, and the Armed Forces of the North (FAN; or Command Council of the Armed Forces of the North) which was led by the anti-Libyan Hissène Habré. In March 1979, Malloum resigned from the presidency, and in August a transitional government was formed (known by its French acronym GUNT) which was made up of various rebel groups including FAN and FAP.
The ensuing continuation of the Chadian-Libyan war, also known as the Toyota War due to the prominent use of Toyota pickup trucks by Chadian forces, saw intense fighting between Chadian and Libyan troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, Chadian forces demonstrated remarkable resilience and guerrilla tactics, successfully repelling multiple Libyan offensives. By August 1987, what was left of the conflict was essentially the Aozou strip.
It was within the context of the Chadian civil war that the interstate conflict between the Government of Chad and the Government of Libya took place, regarding the territorial incompatibility over the Aozou strip. The two countries fought each other directly, in contrast to the Chadian civil war when Libya had been a secondary warring party to many of the rebel groups that challenged the Chadian government. The conflict over the Aozou strip escalated with the Battle of Fada in September 1987, where Chadian forces dealt a decisive blow to the Libyan military, forcing them to retreat from the Aozou strip. International pressure, particularly from France and the United States, played a crucial role in mediating the conflict and facilitating a ceasefire agreement between Chad and Libya in September 1987. The subsequent International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in 1994 further affirmed Chad's sovereignty over the Aozou strip, bringing an end to the decades-long dispute.
In 1983, another interstate conflict took place between Chad and Nigeria over the ownership of the Lake Chad strip; a fertile territory bordering Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The dispute stemmed from historical tensions over territorial boundaries and access to valuable resources in the region. The conflict escalated when Chadian forces, led by President Hissén Habré, accused Nigeria of encroaching on Chadian territory around Lake Chad. Habré's government claimed that Nigeria's military presence in the area violated Chadian sovereignty and threatened the livelihoods of local populations dependent on the lake's resources.
As tensions grew, both sides engaged in clashes and military maneuvers along the disputed border. The conflict reached a critical point with the Battle of the Lake Chad Strip in June 1983, where Chadian and Nigerian forces clashed fiercely over control of strategic positions around the lake. Ultimately, international pressure and mediation efforts, particularly from the Organization of African Unity (OAU), helped facilitate a ceasefire agreement between Chad and Nigeria. The conflict ended without a clear victor, but both sides agreed to withdraw their forces from the disputed area and engage in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the underlying territorial disputes. While the ceasefire temporarily halted hostilities, the underlying tensions between Chad and Nigeria would persist, periodically resurfacing in subsequent years.
