General information
Part of Conflict: Chad: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 2008-02-25
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The National Alliance was formed in early January 2008 and attacked NDjamena in early February. However, the emerging of the rebel alliance was announced after this attack. On 25 February the UFDD announced the creation of the National Alliance. On 14 March Ali Gadaye, spokesman for the National Alliance stated that “If Debý doesnt want dialogue, then were going to chase him out by force”. Gadaye continued to say that “Were in our own national territory and we have a clear objective: to liberate our people who are being held hostage by a family clan (Déby)”
Date of first use of armed force: 2008-02-02
Comment on date of first use of armed force: The National Alliance attacked NDjamena on 2 February 2008 and this is the first attack known to be carried out by the group.
First Battle Related Death: 2008-02-02
Comment on First Battle Related Death: At the end of January 2008, in an attempt to overthrow the government of Chadian President
Idriss Deby, armed Chadian opposition groups attacked NDjamna. The offensive began in
eastern Chad and moved quickly across the country to NDjamna.
The attack on NDjamena erupted on 2 February. On this date A bomb hit the residence of the Saudi ambassador to Chad, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy staffer taking shelter from the fighting, according to a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement. "The residence was not targeted. It was hit in the bombardments during the combat taking place in the Chadian capital." On the 3 February many observers, international NGOs and UN workers witnessed of bodies littering the streets of the capital.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2008-02-05
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The fighting, which erupted in NDjamna on 2 February when armed groups reached the capital, was intense. Many of the battles took place in and around densely populated residential neighbourhoods. The Commission of Inquiry documented 977 deaths (730 in NDjamna) in the period 28 January to 8 February, but estimates from International Committee of the Red Cross from 5 February talked abouth 160 people killed already then.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: Alliance Nationale, also known as Alliance nationale de la resistance, (AN) was a Chadian rebel group fighting for the establishment of democracy and electoral process through the political or military ousting of the government. The group emerged in 2008 as a coalition of three anti-government rebel groups: UFDD, UFDD Fondamentale, and RFC. The group was only active for one year, during which it stated several conflict goal issues. The group called for the ousting of the corrupt government and the President Idriss Déby which was intended to result in the establishment of a democratic structure, for the establishment of a new constitution and organization of democratic elections. AN also called for the establishment of law and order and rule of law within Chad to limit the power and extent of armed gangs. The group particularly emphasized its intentions to promote “an inclusive dialogue during which all the problems that the Chadian people will be debated with a view to a just and lasting global solution”.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During its brief existence, AN were interpreted as stating five issues pertaining to the dynamics of the conflict. The group called for the withdrawal of French and other international forces that supported the government from Chad and for the withdrawal of European Union Forces in Chad which were accused of supporting the government: “The deployment of EUFOR is a low maneuver of the French government to try to save Déby.” Later in 2008, AN also called upon the international community to support the group with a military intervention and political influence in order to prevent further bloodshed. The group also said it was willing to cease military actions if negotiations were held under the supervision of the French government and EU: “If France and the European Union get involved to guarantee an accord, we are ready not to go to war”.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Whilst AN initially stated its willingness to participate in negotiations and national dialogue under the supervision of international bodies, the group did also express its opposition to direct negotiations with the Chadian government as they denounced calls for negotiations from the Chadian government as ways of weakening the rebel group.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Constitutional issues, Corruption, CPS: Democracy, Hold elections, Law and order, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Revenues from natural resources, Rule of law
Conflict Dynamics Issues: DFI: Withdrawal of international monitoring, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: Foreign mediator, IFI: Military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: Use of foreign influence
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for negotiations, National dialogue, Opposition to negotiations, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2008
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1361 |
| Best | 991 |
| Low | 991 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Chad): n/a
Side B (AN ): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2008 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In the beginning of January 2008 the three largest Chadian rebel groups decided to form an alliance to better fight the President Idriss Déby. The three rebel groups are named UFDD, UFDD Fondamentale and RFC. UFDD is led by Mahamat Nuri and is mainly Goran in its ethnic affiliation, UFDD Founamentale is led by Abd-el-Wahid Makaye, a Salamat Arab and RFC is led by Timan Erdidi and mainly consist of people from the same ethnic group (and many of the leaders are relatives to Déby) Zaghawa people. The largest of the groups is UFDD and they were the group that were leading the alliance. The alliance attacked NDjamena in early February and nearly toppled the Chadian President. One reason for that they did not succeed in overthrowing Déby was internal disagreements within the alliance. The by far most important, and deadly, incident in 2008 was the attack on NDjamena but fighting also took place throughout the year in Eastern Chad.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: There were no negotiations taking place in 2008 between the Chadian government and the National Alliance.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Other
Date of termination: 2008-12-31
Comment on Termination: After the attack on Ndjamena in February the AN alliance split into different factions.
Comment on Termination Date: The dyad is seen as terminated by the end of 2008 due to the alliance split into different factions. This process started with the unsuccessful attempt to oust President Déby in February 2008.
