SUMMARY

Tensions between the parties began in early 1992 after opposition members took to the streets. On President Rahmon Nabiyevs orders, Speaker of the Supreme Soviet Safarali Kenjayev orchestrated the dispersal of some 2000 weapons to pro-government militias. In May 1992, fighting broke out between the old guard, now calling themselves the Popular Front of Tajikistan (PFT), and the democratic-Islamist opposition, who referred themselves as the United Tajik Opposition (UTO).

With the aid of the Russia and Uzbekistan, PFT forces defeated UTO in early and late 1992. The coalition government in the capital was forced to resign and in December 1992, the Supreme Soviet elected a new government under the leadership of Emomali Rahmonov.

The non-state conflict between PFT and UTO is first included in UCDP data in 1992. In June of that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.