Libya-Chad Aouzou Strip dispute

The Aouzou Strip is a strip of Chadian territory abutting the Libyan border, the ownership of which has been contested by the two countries ever since their independence. It runs for some 600 miles in length and 90 miles at its broadest point and 50 miles at its narrowest. Few people, mostly members of the nomadic Tebu clan, actually inhabit the strip, which was the scene of fierce fighting at various junctures in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s until the ownership issue was referred to the International Court of Justice by the UN Security Council.

The origins of the dispute lie in the uncertainties over the territories inherited by the two countries from the colonial powers in the region - in this case, Italy and France. Chad largely based its claim to ownership on the 1955 Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourliness signed between newly independent Libya and the French possessions, which it argued, gave it a strong claim to the territory based on various exchanges of correspondence between the colonial powers. It also based its argument on Libya's failure to insist on the inclusion of the strip into its territory in a 1966 treaty between the two countries.

Libya also believed it had a strong case for ownership. It argued that the 1955 agreement was a product of coercion, and that it had in fact been superseded by a 1972 agreement between Colonel Qadhafi and President Tombalbaye of Chad in which Tombalbaye unambiguously stated, "The Aouzou Strip has been and always will be, without any doubt, an integral part of Libyan territory." In addition it referred to a 1935 French-Italian Treaty which would appear to have granted Italy (as colonial power in Libya) rights over the Strip, but while this treaty was ratified, the ratification documents were never exchanged, and the territory was never, in fact, occupied by the Italians.

In its judgment, the ICJ voted overwhelmingly in favour of Chad's claims, and stated that the boundary was, in effect, determined exclusively and conclusively by the 1955 Treaty. It determined the course of the boundary as being:

From the point of intersection of the 24th meridian east with the parallel 19 degrees 30' of latitude north, a straight line to the point of intersection of the Tropic of Cancer with the 16th meridian east; and from that point a straight line to the point of intersection of the 15th meridian east and the parallel 23 degree of latitude north.

Relations between Chad and Libya remain complicated by Libyan attempts at involvement in Chad's internal affairs - arguably a reflection of their long-standing shared history of trade, migration and other trans-boundary interaction. However, history subsequent to the 1994 judgment appears to have demonstrated Libyan acceptance of the boundary and while Libya remains involved in Chadian affairs the issue has effectively been removed from the table as a source of potential further conflict.

Full summary of ICJ Judgement

For documents relating to this case, see the Menas Borders eLibrary.