United Front for Democratic Change
Encyclopedia
The United Front for Democratic Change or Front uni pour le changement (FUC) is a Chad
ian rebel alliance, made up of eight individual rebel groups, all with the goals of overthrowing the government of current Chadian President. It is now part of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development
. UFDC was founded between 26–28 December 2005 in Modeina in eastern Chad. FUC's "president
" is Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim, the former leader of the Rally for Democracy and Liberty
rebel group, "first vice president
" Hassan Salleh Algadam, "second vice president" Abakar Tollimi, and "secretary-general" Abdelwahit About
. On 18 December the RDL and another allied rebel group, Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy
, attacked the city of Adré
. The attack was repulsed by the Chadian military, and the Chadian government accused the Sudan
ese government of supporting the rebels, which Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
denies. Chad declared a "state of belligerance" with Sudan
on 23 December 2005, resulting in the Chad-Sudan Conflict. The result was the Tripoli Agreement
.
Abdullahi Abdel Karim, the spokesperson for the Rally for Democracy and Liberty (RDL) rebels said, "Each of our groups had their own forces, men and equipment. Now, we'll be joining them together."
On 19 January 2006, Abdelwahit About was arrested by the Sudanese government along with twenty other F.U.C. rebels, after he gave a radio interview stating that not only was he in Khartoum
, but the F.U.C. had friendly ties to the Sudanese government.
On 12 April 2006, rebels from the United Front drove 1000 km from their bases near the Sudan
border to the Chadian capital, N'Djamena. Their attack on the capital which occurred before dawn was repelled by the Chadian army, as reported on 13 April. (See Battle of N'Djamena.)
Serious fighting between elements of FUC and the government forces took place on 18 October 2007 at Goz-Beïda. The fighting was said to have been precipitated by the unwillingness of the FUC elements to dismarm and integrate into the army, as provided for in the peace agreement. Abdelkerim urged these FUC elements to accept integration into the army.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian rebel alliance, made up of eight individual rebel groups, all with the goals of overthrowing the government of current Chadian President. It is now part of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development
Union of Forces for Democracy and Development
The Union of Forces for Democracy and Development is the largest group of Chadian rebel forces opposed to current President Idriss Déby...
. UFDC was founded between 26–28 December 2005 in Modeina in eastern Chad. FUC's "president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
" is Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim, the former leader of the Rally for Democracy and Liberty
Rally for Democracy and Liberty
The Rally for Democracy and Liberty, abbreviated as R.D.L. is a Chadian rebel group that was formed in August of 2005 by former members of the Military of Chad who deserted and united under their founder and current leader, Mohammed Nour...
rebel group, "first vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
" Hassan Salleh Algadam, "second vice president" Abakar Tollimi, and "secretary-general" Abdelwahit About
Abdelwahit About
Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye is a Chadian insurgent leader involved in the war to topple the Chadian President Idriss Déby. Originally a fighter in the Democratic Revolutionary Council militia during the first Chadian Civil War, under Déby he became a civil servant before defecting to the rebels in...
. On 18 December the RDL and another allied rebel group, Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy
Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy
Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy, abbreviated as S.C.U.D. , is a Chadian rebel group that was formed in October of 2005 by former members of the Military of Chad who deserted and united under founders and current leaders, 30-year old Yaya Dillo Djérou and his brother...
, attacked the city of Adré
Adré
Adré is the main town of the Assoungha department in the Ouaddaï Region of Chad. It is located very close to Chad's eastern border with Sudan, 400 m away...
. The attack was repulsed by the Chadian military, and the Chadian government accused the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese government of supporting the rebels, which Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir
Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan and the head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister...
denies. Chad declared a "state of belligerance" with Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
on 23 December 2005, resulting in the Chad-Sudan Conflict. The result was the Tripoli Agreement
Tripoli Agreement
The Tripoli Agreement was signed on February 8, 2006, by Chadian President Idriss Déby, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, effectively ending the Chadian-Sudanese conflict that has devastated border towns in eastern Chad and the Darfur region of western...
.
Abdullahi Abdel Karim, the spokesperson for the Rally for Democracy and Liberty (RDL) rebels said, "Each of our groups had their own forces, men and equipment. Now, we'll be joining them together."
On 19 January 2006, Abdelwahit About was arrested by the Sudanese government along with twenty other F.U.C. rebels, after he gave a radio interview stating that not only was he in Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, but the F.U.C. had friendly ties to the Sudanese government.
On 12 April 2006, rebels from the United Front drove 1000 km from their bases near the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
border to the Chadian capital, N'Djamena. Their attack on the capital which occurred before dawn was repelled by the Chadian army, as reported on 13 April. (See Battle of N'Djamena.)
Rebel groups within FUC
The eight (defunct) rebel groups that form the FUC:- CNTCNT-Buildings:* Canadian National Tower, or CN Tower, a communications and observation tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada-Businesses:* Cantiere Navale Triestino , an Italian shipbuilding company founded in 1908 and renamed Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico Monfalcone in 1929-Non-profit organizations:*...
: Hassan Salleh Al Gadam (PRESIDENT) - RDLRally for Democracy and LibertyThe Rally for Democracy and Liberty, abbreviated as R.D.L. is a Chadian rebel group that was formed in August of 2005 by former members of the Military of Chad who deserted and united under their founder and current leader, Mohammed Nour...
: Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim (PRESIDENT) - SCUDPlatform for Change, Unity and DemocracyPlatform for Change, Unity and Democracy, abbreviated as S.C.U.D. , is a Chadian rebel group that was formed in October of 2005 by former members of the Military of Chad who deserted and united under founders and current leaders, 30-year old Yaya Dillo Djérou and his brother...
: Yaya Dillo DjérouYaya Dillo DjérouYaya Dillo Djérou became a prominent political figure in Chad. On October 14, 2005, when the government of Idriss Déby had to admit desertions in the army, especially from the Zaghawa, the President's ethnic group...
(Coordinator) - FIDELFidelFidel is a given name, of Latin origin and stemming from fidelis, meaning "faithful". The name is most prominently associated with Cuba's leader Fidel Castro.-Other persons:*Fidel Dávila Arrondo, Spanish army officer during Spanish Civil War...
: Abdelwahit AboutAbdelwahit AboutAbdelwahid Aboud Mackaye is a Chadian insurgent leader involved in the war to topple the Chadian President Idriss Déby. Originally a fighter in the Democratic Revolutionary Council militia during the first Chadian Civil War, under Déby he became a civil servant before defecting to the rebels in...
(Secretary General) - FNTR: Babikir Ismail (Representative)
- Group of 8 December: Abakar Tollimi (Coordinator)
- CNRConseil National de la RésistanceThe Conseil National de la Résistance or the National Council of the Resistance is the body that directed and coordinated the different movements of the French Resistance - the press, trade unions, and members of political parties hostile to the Vichy regime, starting from...
: Almado Awad Mardo (Chargé of defense) - FRRRT: Yaya Batit Ali Al-Mahmoudi (President)
2006 peace accord
On 24 December 2006, Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno and rebel leader Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim signed a peace accord ending hostilities between the Chadian government and the United Front for Democratic Change. A substantial portion of the forces commanded by Abdelkerim were scheduled to be integrated into the Chadian national army over the subsequent three months, but the remaining rebel factions continued to fight on against the government. Abdelkerim was brought into the government as Minister of Defense in March 2007.Serious fighting between elements of FUC and the government forces took place on 18 October 2007 at Goz-Beïda. The fighting was said to have been precipitated by the unwillingness of the FUC elements to dismarm and integrate into the army, as provided for in the peace agreement. Abdelkerim urged these FUC elements to accept integration into the army.
Child soldiers
According to reports in May 2007, the rebel group had more than 1,000 child soldiers within its ranks. There are ongoing negotiations with the government of Chad for their demobilization.External links
- "Chad: Former rebel leader becomes defense minister"
- "Chad rebels join to overthrow president" - CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
(accessed 30 December) - "Chad president and rebel leader sign peace accord" - Sudan Tribune (accessed 26 December 2006)