# Libyan Intervention in Chad (1980)

URL: https://allhistories.com/libya/timeline/1980-libyan-intervention-in-chad
Location: N'Djamena, Chad
Themes: battle

Chad's civil war had become a struggle between rival northern factions, notably the forces of President Goukouni Oueddei, head of the Transitional Government of National Unity (GUNT), and his former ally Hissène Habré. When fighting broke out in the capital N'Djamena in March 1980, Goukouni turned to Libya, with which he signed a friendship treaty in June 1980. In late 1980 Libya sent several thousand troops, supported by tanks, artillery, aircraft and members of the Islamic Legion, south across the Sahara. In December 1980 they helped Goukouni's forces drive Habré out of N'Djamena. On 6 January 1981 Gaddafi and Goukouni issued a communiqué announcing that the two countries would work towards full unity. The declaration provoked alarm across Africa and in France, which feared Libyan expansion into the Sahel; the Organisation of African Unity condemned it and Goukouni himself backed away. Under international pressure, and at Goukouni's request, Libya withdrew its forces in November 1981 and was replaced by an OAU peacekeeping force. Habré, backed by Egypt, Sudan, France and the United States, then swept back to take N'Djamena in June 1982. The episode set the stage for the renewed and larger Libyan intervention of 1983. At this point in the timeline (December 1980), the Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution was Muammar Gaddafi (2 March 1979 – 20 October 2011); the Secretary-General of the General People's Congress was Abdul Ati al-Obeidi (2 March 1979 – 7 January 1981). Government: the Secretary of the General People's Committee of Libya was Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi (2 March 1979 – 16 February 1984).

## Why it matters
The 1980 intervention made Libya a direct party to Chad's civil war and alarmed France and much of Africa.

Ruler at the Time: [Muammar Gaddafi](https://allhistories.com/libya/rulers/muammar-gaddafi)

Secretary-General of the General People's Congress: Abdul Ati al-Obeidi (Independent (Jamahiriya))
Secretary of the General People's Committee of Libya: Jadallah Azzuz at-Talhi (Non-partisan (Jamahiriya system))

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Chadian–Libyan War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadian%E2%80%93Libyan_War)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Chad Libya war](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Chad+Libya+war)
- [Wikipedia — Goukouni Oueddei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goukouni_Oueddei)
- [Wikipedia — The Gaddafi Era (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya_under_Muammar_Gaddafi)