Djiboutian Civil War
Encyclopedia
The Djiboutian Civil War (also known as the Afar insurgency) was a conflict in Djibouti
between the People's Rally for Progress
(RPP) government (predominantly Issa
in ethnicity) and the predominantly Afar rebel group, the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
(FRUD). This civil war
broke out in November 1991 as a reaction to the lack of Afar presence in the government despite representing a sizeable percentage of the country's population. That month, Afar rebels laid siege to the northern towns of Tadjoura and Obock and captured all the military posts in the country’s north.
Fighting occurred mainly in northern areas. In one controversial incident, however, in the capital city of Djibouti
on December 18, 1991, government troops moved into the Afar Arhiba District of the capital and opened fire on crowds; at least 59 people were killed. In February 1992, some French troops were deployed in the north to aid the government forces. Additionally, France tried to mediate between the government and FRUD, but peace talks in November 1992 failed, as did ones in May 1993.
The government launched an offensive on July 5, 1993, which recaptured much of the rebel-held territory. This renewed fighting, however, caused thousands of Djiboutians to flee to neighboring Ethiopia
.
A moderate faction of FRUD signed a peace accord with the government on December 26, 1994, effectively ending the conflict, although a radical faction continued small-scale armed resistance, eventually signing its own peace agreement in 2001. Two FRUD members were made cabinet members, and beginning with the presidential elections of 1999
the FRUD has campaigned in support of the RPP.
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
between the People's Rally for Progress
People's Rally for Progress
The People's Rally for Progress , is a political party in Djibouti. It has dominated politics in the country since 1979, initially under the rule of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon...
(RPP) government (predominantly Issa
Issa (clan)
The Issa are a Somali clan, a sub-clan of the Dir. The Issa primarily reside in Djibouti, the extreme northwestern fringe in the Awdal district of Somaliland in northern Somalia, as well as the Shinile Zone located in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.-Lineage:...
in ethnicity) and the predominantly Afar rebel group, the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....
(FRUD). This civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
broke out in November 1991 as a reaction to the lack of Afar presence in the government despite representing a sizeable percentage of the country's population. That month, Afar rebels laid siege to the northern towns of Tadjoura and Obock and captured all the military posts in the country’s north.
Fighting occurred mainly in northern areas. In one controversial incident, however, in the capital city of Djibouti
Djibouti (city)
The City of Djibouti is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Djibouti, a nation in the Horn of Africa. The biggest settlement on the Gulf of Tadjoura, it lies on a peninsula that separates that basin from the Gulf of Aden.-History:...
on December 18, 1991, government troops moved into the Afar Arhiba District of the capital and opened fire on crowds; at least 59 people were killed. In February 1992, some French troops were deployed in the north to aid the government forces. Additionally, France tried to mediate between the government and FRUD, but peace talks in November 1992 failed, as did ones in May 1993.
The government launched an offensive on July 5, 1993, which recaptured much of the rebel-held territory. This renewed fighting, however, caused thousands of Djiboutians to flee to neighboring Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
A moderate faction of FRUD signed a peace accord with the government on December 26, 1994, effectively ending the conflict, although a radical faction continued small-scale armed resistance, eventually signing its own peace agreement in 2001. Two FRUD members were made cabinet members, and beginning with the presidential elections of 1999
Djiboutian presidential election, 1999
Presidential elections were held in Djibouti on 9 April 1999. Following the retirement of Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who had served as President since independence in 1977, his nephew Ismail Omar Guelleh won the nomination of the ruling People's Rally for Progress...
the FRUD has campaigned in support of the RPP.