Libya-Chad Conflict

[Stormy]

Minor Graphic Warning

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Libya invaded Chad in 1980, to help Oueddei remain in power and to forward an expansionist policy that projected to unify politically Libya and Chad. Before, The Libyans had already occupied a narrow strip of land known as the Aouzou Strip in 1972-73. France and the United States responded by aiding Habré in an attempt to contain Libya's regional ambitions under Muammar al-Qaddafi. Civil war deepened. In December, 1980 Libya occupied all of northern Chad, but Habré defeated Libyan troops and drove them out in November, 1981. By this stage France and neighbouring Libya were intervening repeatedly to support one side against another. Habré in 1982 conquered the capital ousting President Oueddei, and assumed overall control of the state. His eight year reign led to immense political turmoil, with human rights organisations accusing him of having ordered the execution of thousands of political opponents and members of tribes thought hostile to his regime. In 1983, Qaddafi's troops occupied all of the country north of Koro Toro. The United States used a clandestine base in Chad to train captured Libyan soldiers, whom it tried to organize into an anti-Qaddafi force. Habré's aid from the USA and France helped him to win the war against Libya. The Libyan occupation of the north of Koro Toro ended when Habré defeated Qaddafi in 1987.

The Aozou Strip (alternatively, Aouzou Strip) is a strip of land in northern Chad which lies along the border with Libya, extending south to a depth of about 100 kilometers into Chad's Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti prefecture.



Claimed to be rich with uranium deposits, a dispute over the control of this area with Libya led to a war between the two countries. In 1973, Libya engaged in military operations in the Aozou Strip to gain access to minerals and to use it as a base of influence in Chadian politics. Libya argued that the territory was inhabited by indigenous people who owed allegience to the Senoussi Order and subsequently to the Ottoman Empire, and that this title had been inherited by Libya. It also supported its claim with an unratified 1935 treaty between France and Italy, the colonial powers of Chad and Libya, respectively. After consolidating its hold on the strip, Libya annexed it in 1976.

The frontier claimed by the Chadian government was based on a 1955 treaty between France and Libya, which, in turn, referred back to an 1899 agreement between Great Britain and France about "spheres of influence". Despite other differences, this was one position on which all Chadian political parties and factions were able to agree.

Chadian forces were able to force the Libyans to retreat from the Aozou Strip in 1987. A cease-fire between Chad and Libya held from 1987 to 1988, followed by unsuccessful negotiations over the next several years, leading finally to the 1994 International Court of Justice decision granting Chad sovereignty over the Aozou strip, which ended Libyan occupation.

[C.MAXIMUS]

Nice pics. shocking...

[PersianPrince]

Wonderful Images.

[ZeroZen]

wow, I never knew that war existed. hhmmmm...wierd

[shocker1]

What's going on here?

[PersianPrince]

Originally Posted by shocker1

What's going on here?

Libyan children killing a rabbit with there teeth.To prove how ferocious they are.This is common in many Arab countries.

[shocker1]

Originally Posted by PersianPrince

Libyan children killing a rabbit with there teeth.To prove how ferocious they are.This is common in many Arab countries.

Thanks, reminds me of how my grandfather dressed rabbits by slinging the guts out though his legs.

[mas36]

Very interesting images. I understand that this conflict has employed (still employs?) lots of Mercs, especially pilots for the helicopters and jets. Any truth to this?

[nerdman]

Hmmm, I wonder how they got their hands on that?

[JVeld]

Wow......good pics man, didn't even know that war took place !!!
thanks for posting .

[Adax]

Awsome pictures, the aren't look like army, rather militia. But they have nice equipment; Chinook, Mi-24, Kub(AA system)...

BTW:

These aircraft look like ALCA (they are probably L-39)

[Nyyperi]

Originally Posted by PersianPrince

Libyan children killing a rabbit with there teeth.To prove how ferocious they are.This is common in many Arab countries.

Seriously?
If so, they/we have a long way ahead of us.

[Creeper]

Thanks 4 the pics 'Stormy' ! Must I mention the 'Wrabbit eating Dude' - that rocks ! whats up with the L-39s ? Trainer jets withmissle pods !
Thanks for the work - now go get some more!

[ronnieraygun]

Yes, good stuff. I posted some back in February, but could not figure out the sizing issue. It's all at almostakbal (libyan arabic newspaper).

Note that the images are apparently branded and owned by Corbis, a "stock" photo owner (when you pay your car insurance bill and there is a picture of some sexy European woman on your bill apparently enjoying paying 200 dollars per month for auto insurance, Corbis probably owns that image)

They are, however, ganked by the Libyan paper first. So, we're off the hook. Otherwise, they're about the best thing going for images of the conflict on the web.

[Luno]

nice pictures
isn’t that an old Redeye launcher (man-portable surface-to-air missile)? And you don’t see many pictures of the Redeye