French intervention in the Chadian Civil War
36 years ago today, on August 16, 1983 (July 8, 1983 in the lunar calendar), France intervened in the Chadian Civil War.
French intervention in the Chadian Civil War
Chadian rebels wore clothing suitable for desert combat
On August 16, 1983, France sent hundreds of troops to its former colony of Chad to support the government and fight guerrillas reportedly backed by Libya. The Reagan administration has pledged $25 million worth of military aid to Chadian President Hesse Habré. Guerrilla and Government forces have been fighting a tug-of-war in several towns in northern Chad. Shortly before that, the guerrillas reoccupied the Faa-Laro Oasis.
French intervention in the Chadian Civil War
French intervention in the Chadian Civil War
Habré said at a press conference: "We ask all countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe to help Chad defend itself. Libya is the aggressor. Habry also accused the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, of "using Soviet tactics" to attack the Faya-Laro Oasis by dispatching a large number of aircraft, tanks and artillery. He said, "This is a genocidal massacre, and we've only seen it in films about World War II." The Libyan News Agency denied libya's involvement in chad's civil war.
A guard guards the captured rebels in the capital, N'Djamena