Habre Becomes Premier & Tries to Topple President Malloum

In 1976, there erupted a bitter disagreement between Hissene Habre and his lieutenant, Goukouni Oueddei over whether to continue accepting Libyan aid or not. Goukouni backed the acceptance of Libyan aid to the hilt; Habre bitterly rejected the aid. Goukouni replaced Habre as head of the FROLINAT and Habre went off into the desert with a few hundred men.'


GEN. FELIX MALLOUM His army fought a fierce civil war against Habre's army.
 
The FROLINAT continued to receive aid from Libya, and within a year, it swept President Malloum's army from the north. Malloum then appealed for French aid. In April 1978, France sent in troops and planes and halted the advance of the FROLINAT who had been approaching N'djamena, the country's capital town.
 
The French then did the needful by recognizing and approaching Habre. Next, the French brought together Habre and Malloum to sign an agreement. In August 1978, Habre became Prime Minister, and Malloum remained President; and Goukouni, though he commanded the powerful FROLINAT, was ignored due to his Libyan connection.
 
The Malloum-Habre rapprochement was short-lived. Habre accused Malloum of failing to respect Moslems. He also refused the integration of his army into Malloum's. Impasse set in. When in January 1979 Habre attempted to stage a military coup against President Malloum in N'djamena, the two armies (Malloum's and Habre's) fought fierce battles, with heavy casualties on both sides. President Malloum fled into exile.

National Movements and New States in Africa