page_title: History of Chad
section_title: The Habré era (1982–1990)
hierarchical_section_title: History of Chad / The Habré era (1982–1990)
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the Civil war in Chad (1980-1987). GUNT-controlled area in Chad until 1986/87 (light-green) "Red line" on 15th and 16th latitude (1983 and 1984) Libyan-occupied Aouzou Strip (dark-green). Français&#160;: Zone controlé par le GUNT au Tchad en 1986/1987 (vert clair), "ligne rouge" au 15e et 16e latitude (1983 et 1984) et la bande d'Aouzo occupé par la Libye (vert foncé) Deutsch: Von Oueddeis GUNT kontrollierte Gebiete im Tschad bis 1986/87 (hellgrün), die von Frankreich gesetzten "roten Linien" am 15. Breitengrad (1983) bzw. am 16. Breitengrad (1984) und der libysch-besetzte Aouzou-Streifen (dunkelgrün)
context_page_description: Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It borders Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, the country is sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa".
context_section_description: Libya's partial withdrawal to the Aozou Strip in northern Chad cleared the way for Habré's forces to enter N’Djamena in June. French troops and an OAU peacekeeping force of 3,500 Nigerian, Senegalese, and Zairian troops (partially funded by the United States) remained neutral during the conflict.
  Habré continued to face armed opposition on various fronts, and was brutal in his repression of suspected opponents, massacring and torturing many during his rule. In the summer of 1983, GUNT forces launched an offensive against government positions in northern and eastern Chad with heavy Libyan support. In response to Libya's direct intervention, French and Zairian forces intervened to defend Habré, pushing Libyan and rebel forces north of the 16th parallel. In September 1984, the French and the Libyan governments announced an agreement for the mutual withdrawal of their forces from Chad. By the end of the year, all French and Zairian troops were withdrawn. Libya did not honor the withdrawal accord, and its forces continued to occupy the northern third of Chad.
  Rebel commando groups (Codos) in southern Chad were broken up by government massacres in 1984. In 1985 Habré briefly reconciled with some of his opponents, including the Democratic Front of Chad (FDT) and the Coordinating Action Committee of the Democratic Revolutionary Council. Goukouni also began to rally toward Habré, and with his support Habré successfully expelled Libyan forces from most of Chadian territory. A cease-fire between Chad and Libya held from 1987 to 1988, and negotiations over the next several years led to the 1994 International Court of Justice decision granting Chad sovereignty over the Aouzou strip, effectively ending Libyan occupation.
caption: The Aozou Strip (dark green), claimed and occupied by Libya between 1976 and 1987, and territories held by Libyan-backed GUNT-forces (light green)
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