SUMMARY
FRUD-C (Front pour la restauration de l’unité et de la démocratie – Combattant, or Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy – Combatant; alternatively called “FRUD Ahmed Dini faction”, “FRUD-Radicals”, or “FRUD-Armé”) was an armed group active in the Djiboutian conflict over government. FRUD-C’s primary goal was to overthrow the Government of Djibouti, led by President Hassan Gouled Aptidon. The group also demanded demobilization of all clan-based militia recruited by the government, the revision of the constitution to allow unlimited pluralism, administrative decentralization, and the revision of electoral lists. FRUD-AD claimed to represent the Afar ethnic minority group, which comprises around one third of Djibouti’s population. The Afar reside primarily in the arid regions of northern Djibouti, where most either a nomadic lifestyle, or reside in small oasis towns. The Afar was largely excluded from political power, which was concentrated in the Issa clan of the majority Somali ethnic group; President Gouled came from one of the Issa sub-clans.
FRUD-C was created in late 1994, following a split between moderate and radical factions within FRUD. Ahmed Dini Ahmed, who had been the leader of FRUD until he was ousted in June 1994, led the FRUD-C splinter faction. A faction within FRUD that favored talks with the Government of Djibouti had removed Dini as the group’s leader; consequently, FRUD-C was comprised of the radical elements of FRUD loyal to Dini that refused to accept negotiations with President Gouled’s regime. Dini was a veteran Djiboutian politician who had served as prime minister under President Gouled 1977-78. Ibtahim Chehem Daoud served as Dini’s deputy. No reliable estimations regarding the cadre strength of FRUD-C was available.
Eritrea supported FRUD-C with arms and probably logistics in an effort to cut the supply routes from Djibouti to landlocked Ethiopia during the Eritrean - Ethiopian conflict. The amount was presumed to have been modest.
On 7 February 2000, FRUD-C and the Government of Djibouti signed the “Framework Agreement for Civil Reform and Concord” in Paris, France. The agreement put an end to the fighting between the parties, and it also included provision for the integration of FRUD-C members into the national armed forces and civilian administration. It should be noted that a FRUD-C splinter faction led by Mohamed Kadd’ami (FRUD-C-MK) remained active also after this.
