Union of Forces for Democracy and Development

Summary: Founded in 2006 by a former Chadian government minister and ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) was the largest rebel group in Chad. Its goal was the overthrow of the government of Chad's president, Idriss Déby. From its base in the Darfur region of western Sudan, the UFDD launched attacks on Chadian towns in October 2006. After peace talks hosted by President Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya, the UFDD and three other rebel groups signed a peace agreement with the government in October 2007. The peace deal fell apart a month later, and the UFDD resumed its attacks in November 2007. The UFDD declared war on France in December 2007 for its alleged support of President Déby. On February 2, 2008, a coalition consisting of the UFDD and two other Chadian rebel groups entered the capital, N'Djamena, reportedly surrounding the presidential palace. After three days of fighting, the rebels were driven out of the city by government forces. In 2016, the Front for Change and Concord (FACT) split from the UFDD and became the dominant force in the fight. In April 2021, FACT led a major offensive attack from its base in Libya, leading to the death of Déby. The group refused to sign a peace agreement presented by the former president’s son and remained an active force in the region.

Territory: Chad and western Sudan.

Religious affiliation or political orientation: Allied with Rally of Forces for Change and Union of Forces for Democracy and Development - Fundamental; also receives tacit support from the Sudanese government.

Founded: 2006.

Key leader: Mahamat Nouri.

Activities:

  • 2006: Commits to the overthrow of the government of Chad.
  • November, 2007: Clashes with the Chadian army.
  • December, 2007: Declares war on France.
  • February 2, 2008: Along with two other rebel groups, enters N'Djamena .
  • February 5, 2008: Retreats under force from N'Djamena.

Last known status: A coalition of rebel forces, including the UFDD, entered the capital, N'Djamena, on February 2, 2008. After three days of fighting, the rebels were pushed back from the city by February 5, 2008. In 2016, the splinter group FACT took over most of the UFDD's previous activities and remained active in the 2020s.

In 2005, President Idriss Déby pushed through a constitutional amendment that removed existing term limits, allowing him to run for a third term as president. In response, many soldiers deserted Chad's army and joined various rebel movements.

Mahamat Nouri, a former government minister and Chadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, organized the Union of Force for Democracy and Development (UFDD) and was its first leader. Nouri left his diplomatic post in April 2006 to begin an armed rebellion against Déby and his administration. The UFDD brought together some smaller rebel groups as well as new fighters.

The UFDD was based in the Darfur region of western Sudan. It was widely suspected that the Sudanese government supported the UFDD and other Chadian rebel groups by providing them with weapons, vehicles, medicine, and uniforms. FACT is mainly based in Libya.

In October 2006, the UFDD launched an attack in Chad on the town of Goz Beida and controlled the town for a short time. In November 2006, the UFDD attacked and occupied the town of Achéché.

In October 2007, after talks hosted by Libyan president Muammar al-Qaddafi, the Chadian government signed a peace agreement with the UFDD and three other rebel groups: the Movement for Resistance and Change, the National Accord of Chad and a breakaway faction of the UFDD, Union of Forces for Democracy and Development-Fundamental. The agreement called for an immediate ceasefire, amnesty for civil and military personnel, and the release of prisoners. Rebels were also guaranteed the right to form political parties and to join the Chadian army.

Nevertheless, fighting between the Chadian army and the UFDD continued. More battles broke out in late November and December of 2007, with both the Chadian army and the rebels claiming victories.

In December 2007, the UFDD declared war on France. Chad, which was originally a French colony, gained independence from France in 1960. However, as part of a 1986 treaty, France maintains troops in Chad to help the country protect its "territorial integrity." The UFDD believed that France's real aim was to prop up the government of President Déby and to support the Chadian army against rebel groups.

In response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Chad and in Darfur resulting from the ongoing conflict there, the European Union announced on January 29, 2008, that it was launching a peacekeeping mission in Chad of 3,500 troops. The peacekeepers' mission was to protect refugees and internally displaced persons; the EU stressed that the force would remain neutral in internal political disputes. The UFDD and other rebel groups believed the peacekeepers would side with the government of President Déby against the rebels. Furthermore, more than half of the EU force was made up of French troops.

On February 1, 2008, a rebel coalition consisting of the UFDD and two other rebel groups, the Rally of Forces for Change and the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development - Fundamental, began advancing from eastern Chad towards N'Djamena. The rebel convoy consisted of about 300 vehicles. Along the way, the rebels seized control of Oum Hadjer, a small but strategically important town in central Chad. By February 2, 2008, the rebels had reached N'Djamena and reportedly surrounded the presidential palace. The Chadian army, expecting an attack to take place in eastern Chad, was somewhat taken by surprise by the attack on N'Djamena. Gunfights raged between the rebels and Chadian soldiers, and thousands of foreign nationals living in N'Djamena were evacuated.

There was a lull in the fighting on the night of February 3, 2008; the rebels claimed that they had paused their assault to allow civilians to leave the city. Fighting resumed on February 4, 2008. By the following day, the rebels had been pushed out of the capital. This followed declarations of support for the Chadian government by the United Nations, the French government, and Sudanese rebel groups in Darfur.

The timing of the rebel attack apparently coincided with the deployment of the EU peacekeeping mission with a view towards disrupting its full deployment. The EU temporarily suspended deployment but later resumed.

Déby reportedly remained safe inside his palace, having refused a French offer to evacuate him to safety.

In 2016, the Front for Change and Concord (FACT) split from the UFDD and became the dominant force in the fight. In April 2021, FACT led a major offensive attack from its base in Libya, leading to the death of Déby. The group refused to sign a peace agreement presented by the former president’s son and remained an active force in the region.

Bibliography

"Chad Declares Right to Pursue Rebels in Sudan." Agence France Presse. January 8, 2008. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&AN=AFP20080108637002&site=isc-live

"France Totally Involved on Déby's Side in Chadian 'War' - Rebels." Agence France Presse. January 29, 2008. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&AN=EUP20080129950069&site=isc-live

"OSC Report: Chad - Conflict, Insecurity Spreading; Humanitarian Crisis Widening." World News Connection December 14, 2007. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&AN=AFP20071214430001&site=isc-live

Who are Chad's FACT rebels and what are their goals? (2021, April 21). Al Jazeera. Retrieved Oct. 9, 2023, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/21/who-are-chads-fact-rebels-and-what-are-their-goals