ABSTRACT
The conflict in Chad stands out from similar ethnic conflicts in Africa and elsewhere in many respects. Although not as intense and violent as other cases of ethnic strife, the Chadian civil war has been known as one of the most protracted civil conflicts in the post-WW II era. Nearly two generations of Chadians were born and lived their lives through constant threat of numerous rebellions, coups, instability, economic hardships and interventions. Tombalbaye was from a southern Sara group and allotted the majority of the administrative positions to his clan kin and Southerners, in general, thus squandering his legitimacy through repressive tactics and regional favoritism. Heavy-handed policies against other groups exacerbated their grievances, and the Northern Muslim religious leaders and warlords, each with ethnic-based agendas and supporters, began to openly challenge Tombalbaye's regime. Relations between Chad and Libya resembled the one between amiable yet antagonistic neighbors.
