In 1972 his goals became Becoming , in the evaluation Research of historian Mario Azevedo , the creation Creating of a client state in Libya 's `` underbelly '' , an Islamic republic modelled after his jamahiriya , that would maintain Preserving close ties Connect with Libya , and secure Assistance his control Control over the Aouzou Strip ; expulsion Removing of the French from the region ; and use Using of Chad as a base to expand Expansion his influence in Central Africa .