Libyan Troops Withdraw From Chad | Final Phase | November 1981

November 1981.

Footage of the last batches of Libyan troops leaving Chad.

Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had sent Soviet-armed Libyan troops to aid his ally President Goukouni Oueddei whose troops were fighting insurgents led by future President Hissène Habré, who at the time was defence minister.

Reuters Text:

"The evacuation of the Libyans, numbered at almost ten thousand, will take some time. At the heavily guarded N'Djamena international airport troops wait their turn to board the Soviet built transport planes of the Libyan air force.

The operation was supervised by Major Abdal Sallam Jalloud, second in command to Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi who ordered the withdrawal. President Gaddafi's move followed intense diplomatic pressure from African states as well as from France who is backing the six nation African peacekeeping force. Chad's President Goukouni Oueddei is reportedly anxious for the force to arrive soon to deter any resumption of civil war in the country. He originally invited the Libyans to intervene eleven months ago to defeat the rebel forces of former Defence Minister Hissen Habre."

Source of Footage: Reuters News Archive.