Libyan withdrawal from Chad

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 24

Libyan withdrawal from Chad

The withdrawal of Libyan troops from Chad, Libya’s large, poor neighbour, is a development that is important in North Africa and beyond. The most important aspect is that Chad asked that the troops be withdrawn and they are being withdrawn. Suspicions were held that the troops were there to stay and to ensure Libya’s hold over Chad. If they are going, the immediate suspicions that Libya had in fact annexed Chad may be dismissed. A second important aspect is that the Libyan troops are to be replaced by a multinational force from countries in the Organisation of African Unity. If the O.A.U. manages to field a convincing force that keeps some semblance of peace this will be an important precedent for the whole of Africa. It might be the start of a new era in which African problems stand some chance of being sorted out by Africans themselves.

The Libyan withdrawal and the formation of a peace-keeping force came about during a meeting of African leaders with France, the former colonial power in a number of African countries, including Chad. Independence came to Chad in 1960, but the many divisions in the country — linguistic, tribal, religious, and other factions — have given the country little peace. Heavy French military support was important for the Chad Government for the first 15 years after independence. Many of the senior government and civil service positions were held by Christians; this caused resentment among the Muslims of the country. Libya’s involvement came soon after Colonel Gadaffi came to power in Libya in 1969. A full-scale civil war broke out in March, 1980. Libya sent in troops in November, 1980, on the side of the President of Chad, Mr Goukouni Oueddei, at his request to resist the forces of a former Defence Minister, Mr Hissene Habre. The Libyan move angered a number of African countries, some of

which broke diplomatic relations with Libya. The withdrawal may enable Libya to become a more accepted member of the O.A.U.

Colonel Gadaffi has a number of reasons for wanting to be out of Chad. About 1000 Libyan soldiers are believed to have been killed in the fighting in Chad in the last year. The supply lines for his troops are more than 1000 miles long. The war is expensive both in money terms and in terms of Colonel Gadaffi’s popularity at home. A large number of young Libyans have been drafted for military service in Chad and this has caused resentment. Libya has had its huge oil revenues cut drastically and there are reports that it is offering to pay for some of its imports with supplies of oil. The drop in oil revenue and the expense of the war in Chad have meant that the living standards of Libyans have not been rising quickly. Colonel Gadaffi cannot have felt encouraged by the reports that some of his soldiers killed in Chad were mutilated. AU in all, the Chad venture has been an unhappy one for the , Colonel.

The withdrawal of the. Libyan troops will relieve some of the pressure on Sudan. A number of raids have been made across the border from Chad and Sudan began to fear that it would be dragged into a border war. Theories abounded that Libya, backed by the Soviet Union, would try to form a ring of States to encircle Egypt and lead towards the Gulf region. Although the withdrawal does not necessarily put an end to fears of Libyan expansionism or to threats to Sudan, some of the pressures should ease. The United States might delay the sales of any arms, to Sudan. It must be hoped that the joint exercises being conducted by the United States and Egypt are not seen by Libya as a threat. The opportunity exists for some sort of lowering of tension.