General information
Part of Conflict: Chad: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1999-06-07
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: On this date the MDJT leader Youssouf Togoimi stated in an interview that he would conquer the capital NDjamena by the end of the year and ruled out any negotiations with the government. He furthermore accused the regime of being authoritarian and corrupt.
Date of first use of armed force: 1999-07-31
Comment on date of first use of armed force: In July 1999 there were reports that the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJT) was militarily active in the Tibesti mountains in northern Chad. The exact nature of the rebel activity ranged from the MDJTs claim of killing 77 government soldiers to the governments claim that there were only 40 individuals laying out mines in the area.
First Battle Related Death: 1999-02-01
Comment on First Battle Related Death: On this date fighters from the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJT) clashed with government troops in the Oumou region. The government claimed that 37 rebels and 8 government troops died. Therefore it seems likely that at least 8 people died.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1999-02-05
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Clashes took place in the north of the country between 1-5 February. Rebels reported to have killed over 100 government soldiers. It is likely that over 25 people have died by 5 February 1999.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: Mouvement pour la démocratie et la justice au Tchad, Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) was a rebel group fighting against the government of Chad to seize power and establish a democratic and secular society. The group’s members primarily came from the historically marginalized, particularly by the sitting government, Tobou ethnic group. MDJT first emerged in 1998 when its leader, Youssouf Togoïmi, declared the group’s intention to overthrow sitting President Idriss Déby, who they accused of corruption, and replace the political system with “a secular, free and democratic Chad”.
As the conflict progressed, emphasis on ousting the corrupt government and establishing democracy continued for the conflict’s first years. Several other conflict goal issues emerged throughout the conflict, many of which related to the 2002 elections where allegations of electoral fraud were made, both prior to and following the elections. In conjunction, the group began calling for the ousting of the entire government, rather than the previously stated ousting of just the President, and for the executive, judicial, and military systems to be reformed. They also called for decentralization of political power and of the economy, and for rule of law to be reestablished.
MDJT’s main conflict goal issue was the ousting of President Déby, and later the entire government, and the desire to replace them with a democratic system. These issues, particularly the ousting of the President, were continuously and frequently emphasized by the group, and became characterizing foundations for the group itself.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During the first year of its existence, MDJT’s only stated one conflict dynamics issue. With, the intent of creating a “free” Chad, calling for decreased reliance on foreign power and a reduced influence of foreign nations into Chad.
As the conflict progressed, calls for removal of foreign influence ceased, and focus instead shifted towards the conduct of the military and of governmental institutions, particularly prisons, alleging that the military intentionally targeted civilian infrastructure, food, and housing, as well as committing “inhuman and criminal acts of violence on civilian populations”. MDJT also accused prison guards of, in accordance with government instructions, executing prisoners of war. The group also called upon the international community to cease financial support to the Chadian government, to assist with international monitoring over alleged abuses, and to provide a third-party mediator to resolve the conflict.
The main conflict dynamics issues expressed by the group were the allegations of military misconduct with its intentional targeting of the civilian population, and the abuses and executions carried out onto prisoners of war under instructions from the government. These were continuously stated for the duration of the conflict and received heavy emphasis on communications from the MDJT. Calls for a foreign mediator were also interpreted twice, although it received far less emphasis than the main conflict dynamics issues above.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Whilst MDJT were not interpreted as stating any conflict resolution issues during 1998, several issues were raised throughout the conflict. The most frequently stated issue calls for negotiations, as the group continuously called for a political solution to the conflict. Apart from this, calls were also coded as pertaining to issues of establishing a national dialogue, calling for ceasefires agreements to be respected, and calling for the inclusion of themselves as well as humanitarian organizations in negotiations and establishments of peace agreements towards the end of the conflict.
The main conflict resolution issue for the MDJT was the calls for negotiations, as statements pertaining to this were frequently and continuously coded throughout the conflict and received heavy emphasis for large parts of the conflict’s duration.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Constitutional issues, Corruption, CPS: Democracy, CPS: Secular state, Decentralization, Economic reforms, Electoral fraud, Electoral reform, Opposition to elections, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Recognition as a political party, Reform executive structure, Reform judicial system, Restructure military forces, Rule of law
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Withdrawal of financial support, IFI: Foreign mediator, IFI: International monitoring, Military conduct
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for implementation/abiding to ceasefire, Call for negotiations, National dialogue, Opposition to peace agreement, Structure of negotiations, Structure of peace agreement
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1998
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
1999
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1149 |
| Best | 394 |
| Low | 394 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2000
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1041 |
| Best | 989 |
| Low | 989 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2001
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 326 |
| Best | 226 |
| Low | 226 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2002
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 350 |
| Best | 294 |
| Low | 294 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Tripoli 2 agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2002-01-07
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The Tripoli 2 agreement was signed on 7 January 2002 in Tripoli, and aimed to put an end to the MDJT insurrection in Chad. An immediate ceasefire was called into place under the agreement, stating an end to direct and indirect military action and all hostile propaganda. MDJT fighters were to be integrated into the national army in accordance with modalities agreed upon by a military and security subcommittee.
Participation in the government and other state institutions by the MDJT was also agreed upon, and the modalities were to be drawn up by a political and legal subcommittee.
A general amnesty was proclaimed, and there was to be a release of all prisoners and detainees by both sides.
A tripartite military commission comprised of the government, Libya and the MDJT was created to oversee and verify the provisions of the agreement.
Signatories: For the government of Chad: Chadian Interior Minister Abderahmane Moussa
For MDJT: General Adam Togoi
For Libya: Libya´s Minister for African Affairs Ali Abd al-Sala, al-Turiki
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
The Tripoli 2 agreement was signed on 7 January 2002 in Tripoli.
Third parties: Libya; COMESSA
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Agreement signed in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, after three days of negotiations. Libya took part in a variety of tripartite commissions that were to oversee, verify and implement the provisions of the accord.
Ended: True
Date agreement ended: 2002-05-27
Comment of Duration: The agreement lasted for 5 months: 7 January 2002 - 27 May 2002. Each side blamed the other for violating the peace accord after clashes in late May (27 May 2002).
Full-text peace agreement
2003
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 189 |
| Best | 37 |
| Low | 37 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2004
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2005
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Yebibou agreement 2005
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 2005-08-18
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The agreement was signed on 18 August 2005 between the government of Chad and the MDJT.
The agreement contained twelve points, the first being the establishment of an immediate ceasefire followed by the suspension of all military actions. 600 MDJT combatants were to be retrained and, if they so wished, be integrated into the national army of Chad within three months.
Other MDJT members were to be reintegrated into the civil service and the MDJT - founded by the late former interior minister Youssouf Togoïmi in 1997 - would transform itself into a legal political party and would participate at every level of civilian politics.
The agreement also provided for all prisoners held by both sides to be released.
Signatories: Colonel Hassan Abdallah Mardigué for MDJT
Mining and Energy Minister Youssouf Abbassalah for the Chad government
Comment of signatories: Dyadic peace agreement
Agreement signed at a meeting in Yebibou in the northern Tibesti region.
After the death of leader Youssouf Togoïme in 2002, the MDJT was riddled with internal conflict and many different leaders claimed the leadership. This agreement was signed by Colonel Hassan Abdallah Mardigue for MDJT. Mardigué had been elected chairman over the group in 2003.
Third parties: A representative of the French Embassy in N’djamena attended the signing ceremony at the invitation of the two parties.
Comment of Duration: The agreement was rejected by another MDJT leader Aboubakar Choua Dazi who contested Mardigué's leadership. The MDJT faction of Aboubakar Choua Dazi was never active in UCDP data but continued to exist until 2010 when its remnants signed an agreement on 22 April 2010 calling for the integration of the remaining fighters into the army in October Aboubakar Choua Dazi was arrested.
2007
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
2023
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (MDJT): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1998 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1999 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2000 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: In September 2000, MDJT leader Youssouf Togoimi and Chadian president Idriss Deby met in a series of meeting in Sirte, Libya. The talks reportedly addressed issues like an amnesty for the rebels, the integration of MDJT fighters into the Chadian armed forces and transparency in the electoral process. No concrete progress seems to have been made, though, as the government forces launched a major offensive on rebel positions only a few months later. Qadafi was instrumental in bringing about the negotiations.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2001 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: It was reported on 26 July, 2001 that the Chadian President Idriss Deby had met the leader of the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJT), Youssouf Togoimi, in Sirte, Libya. However, since it has not been possible to find any information on the contents of the talks, it has not been possible to code them as such here.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2002 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: Casualty claims are impossible to confirm independently according to the news agency AFP. For example, for the period January 1 to October 3, a total of 182 rebels were killed and 102 soldiers. The rebels claim however that only 8 of their fighters had been killed. The army reported only 2 soldiers killed during this period. (AFP 2002-10-15). This points to the difficulty of confirming battle related deaths."
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Talks in early January between the Chadian government and the MDJT.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 2002-12-31
Comment on Termination: It is unclear if there were any clashes in 2003 between the MDJT and the Chadian government. There were at least less than 25 battle-related deaths.
2003 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: There were three unconfirmed reports of clashes between Chadian government troops and rebel fighters from the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad /MDJT) in 2003. The MDJT claimed to have killed 117 government soldiers during these two incidents. These casualties are not included, since they have not been possible to confirm.
Comment on Active: There were three unconfirmed reports of clashes between Chadian government troops and rebel fighters from the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad /MDJT) in 2003. The MDJT claimed to have killed 117 government soldiers in the fighting. Since it has not been possible to confirm these casualties, the conflict between the Chadian government and the MDJT has not been coded as active for 2003.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: A breakaway faction of the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT), led by Brig. Gen. Adoum Togoi Abbo, held negotiations with Chadian government officials in Burkina Faso. The talks led to the signing of a ceasefire and a general amnesty for the rebels. The ceasefire was, however, rejected by the mainstream MDJT who claimed Abbo was no longer a part of the MDJT.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2004 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: MDJT and the Government had negotiations in 2004. However, detailed information about these negotiations is not available.
Terminated: NO
2005 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Negotiations between MDJT and the Government that started in 2004 continued in 2005 and lead to the signing of a peace agreement 18 Augusti 2005. The name of the agreement is Yebibou agreement 2005 and it contained twelve points, the first being the establishment of an immediate ceasefire followed by the suspension of all military actions.
Terminated: NO
2007 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
2023 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
