Rebellion In Chad

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 11

Rebellion In Chad

< X-ZP-A.-Reuter—-Copyright) FORT LAMY (Chad), August 29. President Francois Tombalaye has called for French troops to help the Chad Army put down a rebellion in the north of the country, it was officiallyannounced yesterday.

A Government communique i said “elements blinded by passion” had adopted an extreme position in the district of Tibesti in the northern de- ; partment of Borkou Ennedi Tibesti putting the integrity of the national territory in danger. President Tombalaye had appealed for French troops to help the Chad Army “for a limited time” under defence treaties signed between the French and Chad Governments. the communique said. A Government communique on March 15 reported that a large but unspecified number of people were killed and' wounded in a clash between, soldiers and civilians in the remote northern province. It gave no details but said a band of men had taken to the mountains and were being hunted. There was no indication

i whether the hunted men were soldiers or civilians. For years there has been tension between the proud and often warlike Northerners and the Southerners who make up a large proportion of the Chad Army. Yesterday’s communique said the Government had sought a peaceful solution without success. Clashes were also reported earlier this year between Government security forces and rebels in the north-west of the country. Pamphlets have been circulated in Fort Lamy by an organisation calling itself the ; Chad National Liberation Front, which is understood to have its headquarters in Algiers. The Front claims that parts of this huge, sparsely-popu-lated country are controlled by its forces.