Rally of Democratic Forces (rebel group)
Encyclopedia
The Rally of Democratic Forces (in French
: Rassemblement des Forces Démocratiques or RaFD) is a Chad
ian rebel
group led by Timane Erdimi
. It is currently allied to the United Front for Democratic Change
rebel group and both are dedicated to overthrowing Erdimi's uncle, the current Chadian President Idriss Déby
and his administration
. As of May 1, 2006, RaFD has a significant presence in the cities of Guéréda
, Tissi
and Adré
. The 12,000 troops that make up the RaFD were expected to disrupt the 2006 presidential elections, but they did not, and President Déby was returned to power.
The movement has been recently renamed Rassemblement des forces pour le changement (RFC).
began a campaign involving 3,000 against the RAFD, according to the Military of Chad
. The troops attacked RAFD rebels at the Hadjer Marfaine area bordering Sudan
, while simultaneously attacking other groups within the UFDC at Moudeina, and Aram Kolle. Mahamat Inee, RAFD spokesperson, said, "We were attacked by two columns of government troops on 19 September, but we repelled them." Inee said the RAFD took 43 government soldiers prisoner, and seized 40 jeeps and trucks and two tanks. He confirmed news reports that French
Mirage fighter jets stationed in Abeche made surveillance runs over the RAFD's position. Timane Edrimi warned that "all French citizens, military or civil, that fall into the hands of our combatants will be considered like mercenaries and treated accordingly."
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Rassemblement des Forces Démocratiques or RaFD) is a Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
group led by Timane Erdimi
Timane Erdimi
Timane Erdimi is the leader of the Chadian rebel group Rally of Democratic Forces which had 800 soldiers in early 2008. He is a member of the ethnic group Zaghawa and nephew of the Chadian President Idriss Déby.An international arrest warrant was issued by Chad for Erdimi in 2007...
. It is currently allied to the United Front for Democratic Change
United Front for Democratic Change
The United Front for Democratic Change or Front uni pour le changement is a Chadian rebel alliance, made up of eight individual rebel groups, all with the goals of overthrowing the government of current Chadian President. It is now part of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development. UFDC...
rebel group and both are dedicated to overthrowing Erdimi's uncle, the current Chadian President Idriss Déby
Idriss Déby
General Idriss Déby Itno is the President of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Déby is of the Bidyat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. He added "Itno" to his surname in January 2006.-Rise to power:...
and his administration
Government of Chad
The Government of Chad has been ruled and controlled by Idriss Déby and his Patriotic Salvation Movement since December 2, 1990, and officially since February 28, 1991. An amendment to the Constitution of Chad, passed in 2005, allowed Déby to run for his next term which will be his third...
. As of May 1, 2006, RaFD has a significant presence in the cities of Guéréda
Guéréda
Guéréda is a town in the Wadi Fira Region, Chad. It is located at around .Guéréda was the site of fighting between the Chadian army and the Rally of Democratic Forces in early December 2006. On December 1, eleven people were killed and 82 injured in the fighting...
, Tissi
Tissi
Tissi is a comune in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 170 km northwest of Cagliari and about 6 km south of Sassari. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,017 and an area of 10.3 km².Tissi borders the following municipalities: Ossi,...
and Adré
Adré
Adré is the main town of the Assoungha department in the Ouaddaï Region of Chad. It is located very close to Chad's eastern border with Sudan, 400 m away...
. The 12,000 troops that make up the RaFD were expected to disrupt the 2006 presidential elections, but they did not, and President Déby was returned to power.
The movement has been recently renamed Rassemblement des forces pour le changement (RFC).
September 2006 government offensive
On September 19, 2006, the Government of ChadGovernment of Chad
The Government of Chad has been ruled and controlled by Idriss Déby and his Patriotic Salvation Movement since December 2, 1990, and officially since February 28, 1991. An amendment to the Constitution of Chad, passed in 2005, allowed Déby to run for his next term which will be his third...
began a campaign involving 3,000 against the RAFD, according to the Military of Chad
Military of Chad
The Military of Chad consists of the Armed Forces , Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force, Police, and National and Nomadic Guard...
. The troops attacked RAFD rebels at the Hadjer Marfaine area bordering Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, while simultaneously attacking other groups within the UFDC at Moudeina, and Aram Kolle. Mahamat Inee, RAFD spokesperson, said, "We were attacked by two columns of government troops on 19 September, but we repelled them." Inee said the RAFD took 43 government soldiers prisoner, and seized 40 jeeps and trucks and two tanks. He confirmed news reports that French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Mirage fighter jets stationed in Abeche made surveillance runs over the RAFD's position. Timane Edrimi warned that "all French citizens, military or civil, that fall into the hands of our combatants will be considered like mercenaries and treated accordingly."