16 Facts About Goukouni Oueddei

Goukouni Oueddei is a Chadian politician who served as President of Chad from 1979 to 1982.

Goukouni Oueddei pursued a pro-Libya policy; continued differences with Habre, who opposed Libya, led to him being overthrown by Habre's forces in 1982.

Goukouni Oueddei then became the foremost opponent to Habre's new government, and fought against him during the Libyan-Chadian conflict as a Libyan-backed rebel leader.

Goukouni Oueddei entered politics in the late 1960s as a militant in the National Liberation Front of Chad led by Abba Siddick.

Goukouni Oueddei viewed the dictatorial Tombalbaye regime as an instrument of continued French hegemony in Chad.

Goukouni Oueddei was installed as interim Chadian head of state on 23 March 1979.

Goukouni Oueddei was acclaimed President of the Transitional Government of National Unity, which sought reconciliation between warring factions, on 10 November 1979.

Goukouni Oueddei fled from N'Djamena across the Chari River into Cameroon; he subsequently went into exile in Tripoli, Libya.

Goukouni Oueddei was the most recognized Chadian oppositionist, whose views carried significant weight, though Habre granted only limited concessions in an attempt to reconcile with Goukouni.

Goukouni Oueddei was placed under house arrest in August 1985 in Tripoli when the Libyan government disapproved his intentions of negotiating a truce with Habre.

Goukouni Oueddei then broke with the Libyans and went into exile in Algiers instead in February 1987.

Goukouni Oueddei met with Chadian President Idriss Deby on 17 April 2007 in Libreville, Gabon, to discuss ways to end the Second Chadian Civil War.

Goukouni Oueddei said that in turn he wanted to be allowed to return to Chad from exile in the future, and he said that Deby had agreed to that.

Goukouni Oueddei returned to Chad on 30 July 2007, along with about twenty other exiled opponents of the regime, for a discussion with Deby regarding the rebellion and how to resolve the situation.

Goukouni Oueddei met with Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja on 4 March 2008, discussing the situation in Chad following the February 2008 Battle of N'Djamena.

In 2013 his youngest child, Saadie Goukouni Oueddei Weddeye, was appointed to the Chadian government as Minister of Social Action.