What role did the Aozou Strip play in the conflict between Chad and Libya?

The Aozou Strip, a 44,000-square-mile region in northern Chad, served as the primary catalyst for a long-standing sovereignty dispute between Chad and Libya.1

Interest in the territory intensified during the 1970s due to the potential presence of uranium deposits. The conflict escalated after Libya occupied the region in 1973 and unilaterally annexed it in 1975. Over the following 15 years, the strip became the focal point of periodic armed clashes as both nations sought to assert control.1

The dispute became deeply intertwined with Chad's internal civil war, as Libya provided military support to northern political factions opposing the Chadian government. Following years of fighting, including major military engagements in 1987, the two countries agreed to a peaceful resolution. In 1994, the International Court of Justice ruled against Libya’s claims, leading to the withdrawal of Libyan troops from the area.231