General information
Part of Conflict: Chad: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1991-10-15
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: In an interview with the Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada Moussa Medella one of the leaders of MDD stated that the group had been formed in Lake Chad region in Chad on 15 October 1991 as a political movement loyal to ex-president Hussein Habré. The main objective was to throw out the Idriss Déby regime.
The same aim was reported by a journalist in March-April 1992.
Date of first use of armed force: 1991-12-24
Comment on date of first use of armed force: On this date it was reported that around 3 000 MDD fighters attacked several towns in the region of Lake Chad.
First Battle Related Death: 1991-12-24
Comment on First Battle Related Death: The Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) launched their first military attack on 24 December 1991. It is said that the ensuing fighting had killed at least 25 by 31 December and around 100 people by 2 January 1992.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1991-12-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) launched their first military attack on 24 December 1991. It is said that the ensuing fighting had killed at least 25 by 31 December and around 100 people by 2 January 1992.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: Mouvement pour la démocratie et le development, Movement for Democracy and Development, (MDD) was a Chadian rebel group that emerged after the ousting of Hissène Habré and was created by factions loyal to the now ex-President. The group was made up of former soldiers of various Chadian militias and of the former national army and was characterized by its intentions to oust President Idriss Déby from power and, presumably, reinstate Hissène Habré as President, although the latter was not explicitly stated. MDD was established in 1991 and stated its first conflict goal issue in 1992, stating that its “only objective was the establishment of a multiparty system and full democracy”.
As the conflict progressed, the issue of establishing democracy in Chad was reemphasized for the first three years, although not explicitly restated after 1994. MDD also called for the ousting of the executive government of Chad under Déby, emphasizing the reinstatement of former Prime Minister Fidel Moungar and calling upon France, the U.S., and “other friendly countries” to cease cooperation with Chad until his reinstatement. MDD also pronounced its opposition to a drafted constitution, stating that it lacked democratic basis. The group also called upon the international community to fulfill its role to protect the needs of the Chadian people in 1995. On two instances, MDD called for foreign policy reform to be implemented, calling for Libyan acceptance of an ICJ ruling of a decision granting Chad rule over the Azouzou Strip and for Chadian and Libyan cooperation in clearing minefields in the Azouzou region. In the second instance, the group called upon the Nigerian and Nigerien governments to oppose the Chadian government’s demands to arrest and extradite Chadian citizens.
No main issue was interpreted for MDD. Despite the establishment of democracy being continuously stated for the first years of conflict by MDD, its non-reiteration following 1994 implies that the issue was not central to the group, which is why no particular main issue was interpreted for MDD.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: In 1992, MDD stated two conflict dynamics issues, accusing the Chadian government of torturing “more than forty” members of the Chadian opposition to death in a secret prison following their extradition to Chad from Nigeria. The group also stated its fear of a military intervention by the French government, accusing the French military of collaborating with Déby to oust Habré from power, and stating that “We ask France to stay away from the conflict”.
The issue of withdrawal of foreign forces was not explicitly reemphasized throughout the conflict, although MDD restated its accusations of atrocities and abuses in 1993. This time, however, the group accused government forces of burning down a village during a confrontation with the group. During the same year, the group accused the French government of “propping up an anti-national regime in Ndjamena ‘with the clear aim of recolonising Chad’.”, calling for the removal of foreign influence over Chad. MDD also stated that it wished for France, Niger, or Cameroon to oversee negotiations and assist with mediatory efforts. In 1995, the group shifted its stance on French influence over the conflict, calling for a “radical change in French policy towards Chad” and for the French to “give priority to the people’s will and to development to ease the suffering of the people who are frustrated in their most basic rights”.
No main conflict dynamics issue was interpreted for MDD. Whilst the issue of abuses and atrocities was raised in two instances, it was not particularly heavily emphasized and mostly stated as a justification for the group’s continued fighting.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Whilst no conflict resolution issues were raised in the first year of conflict, MDD stated a number of issues in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, the group stated its willingness to engage in negotiations with Déby and the government, although were not ready to have them in Ndjamena and wished for the negotiations to be held with foreign mediation. In 1994, the group called for national dialogue to be promoted through a “roundtable conference of all opposition parties” and, later in the year, called for other Chadian rebel groups to join them in negotiations with the government.
Whilst the issue of negotiations and their structure were raised in the initial stages of conflict, the group’s non-reiteration of the issues after 1994 implies that resolving the conflict was not a priority of MDD, which is why no main conflict resolution issue was interpreted.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Basic needs, Constitutional issues, CPS: Democracy, Foreign policy reform, Oust head of the executive
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: Foreign mediator, IFI: Use of foreign influence
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for negotiations, National dialogue, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1991
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 25 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1992
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1380 |
| Best | 726 |
| Low | 726 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1993
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 40 |
| Best | 40 |
| Low | 40 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1994
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 2 |
| Low | 2 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1995
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 4 |
| Best | 4 |
| Low | 4 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: The Dougia Accord
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1995-11-22
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
A 16 point agreement was signed at Dougia on 22 November 1995.
The agreement contained an immediate ceasefire and an encampment of MDD fighters who subsequently would be integrated into the armed forces of Chad. A technical committee would rule on what rebels were to be integrated into the armed forces, and which ones were to be returned to civilian life.
The MDD were given the right to participate in the management of public affairs, and MDD staff that had previously been in the civil service were reinstated in their pre-conflict posts.
Finally, MDD prisoners were released, freedom of movement was guaranteed and all confiscated property was handed back to the rightful owners.
Signatories: For the government of Chad:Interior Minister Mahamat Nouri
Minister of Communications Yussuf Mbodou Mbani
General Moussa Goudja
For the MDD: President of MDD Oumar Bokara Kadjala
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
The peace agreement was signed at Dougia on 22 November 1995.
Comment of Duration: Some MDD fighters were integrated into the National Army on 30 December 1996.
1996
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1997
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 39 |
| Best | 39 |
| Low | 39 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1998
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
1999
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDD): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Reconciliation agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1999-07-03
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The MDD rebels and the government of Chad signed the Reconciliation Agreement on 3 July 1999, in Khartoum.
The signing of the agreement provided an end to the MDD resurrection, and stipulated that the rebels would be integrated into the national army and into the civil administration of Chad. This was to pave way for a unified army, and peace in Chad.
A general amnesty was extended to former MDD combatants, and the MDD leader returned to Chad on 6 July.
Signatories: Signatory on the rebel side was Moussa Medella, MDD leader
Signatory for the government was special adviser to the Chadian president, Mahamat Salem Adoum
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
The peace agreement was signed in Khartoum, Sudan on 3 July 1999.
Third parties: Sudan
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: The agreement was signed in Sudan.
Comment of Duration: Some MDD representatives rejected the agreement, but not those led by Moussa Medella which is seen by the UCDP as the main faction of MDD.
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1991 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1992 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Two agreements were signed between the government and MDD in 1992. A ceasefire agreement was signed on 24 June by Health Minister Ali Mahamat Zene Ali Fadel and the vice-president of MDD, Brahim Malla Mahamat. The agreement stipulated an end to all armed activity between the parties and the integration of the MDD forces into the national army and the relese of all prisoners of war. Some of the MDD leaders will also take part in the administration and the process of installing multi-party democracy in Chad. A second agreeement was signed on 8 September. Both agreements failed to be implemented.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1993 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1993-12-31
Comment on Termination: The last fighting between the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) and the Chadian government was reported in February 1993.
1994 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1995 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: On 22 November 1995 the Chadian government signed an agreement with the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) in Dougia (country unknown, but probably in Chad). The accord included a ceasefire, exchange of prisoners, the integration of a number of MDD fighters into the national army and the return of guerrillas to civilian life.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1996 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1997 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1997-12-31
Comment on Termination: In 1998 the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), stationed in Niger, decided to lay down their weapons and return to Chad, after Nigerian mediation. The MDD rebels and the government of Chad signed the Reconciliation Agreement on 3 July 1999, in Khartoum.
1998 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1999 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
