[3] The fifteen[4] Hadjarai ethnic groups include the Dajus, Kengas, Junkun, Dangaleats, Mogoums, Sokoros, Sabas, Barains, Bidios, Yalnas,[2] Bolgos, Koffas and Djongors.
However, they also share many cultural traits,[4] the most prevalent of which is a common belief in margais, i.e., invisible spirits that control the natural elements.
[2][3][5] Though never united in the past,[3] the Hadjarai people share a strong spirit of independence, forged in pre-colonial Chad by their repeated clashes with slave-raiding razzias in their territory, and supported in particular by the Ouaddai Kingdom.
[5] Although the Hadjarai played a crucial role in bringing to power Hissène Habré in 1982, they grew alienated from him after the death of their spokesman Idriss Miskine.
They suffered heavily in 1987, after Habré launched a campaign of terror against them in response to the formation of the MOSANAT rebel movement,[8] and members of the group were arrested and even killed en masse.