Western Armed Forces
Encyclopedia
The Western Armed Forces (Forces Armées Occidentales or FAO) is a rebel insurgent group active in Chad
during the civil war. An offshoot of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad
(Movement Populaire pour la Libération du Tchad or MPLT) born in 1979, the FAO recruited its forces mainly among the Kanembu
group located along the shores of Lake Chad
and enjoyed support from some political elements in Nigeria
. Initially part of the Transitional Government of National Unity (GUNT), the FAO had reportedly divided into pro- and anti-Goukouni
factions. Its leader, Moussa Medela, rejected Acheikh ibn Oumar
as head of GUNT after Goukouni Oueddei
was deposed at the close of 1986. They refused to depose the arms like Goukouni, and were an opposition force also against Idriss Déby
, when they merged with other factions to form the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), led by Medela.
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...
during the civil war. An offshoot of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad was a small rebel group active in Chad during the civil war....
(Movement Populaire pour la Libération du Tchad or MPLT) born in 1979, the FAO recruited its forces mainly among the Kanembu
Kanembu people
The Kanembu are an ethnic group of Chad, generally considered the modern descendants of the Kanem-Borno Empire. The Kanembu number an estimated 655,000 people, located primarily in Chad's Lac Prefecture but also in Chari-Baguirmi and Kanem prefectures. They speak the Kanembu language, a variant...
group located along the shores of Lake Chad
Lake Chad
Lake Chad is a historically large, shallow, endorheic lake in Africa, whose size has varied over the centuries. According to the Global Resource Information Database of the United Nations Environment Programme, it shrank as much as 95% from about 1963 to 1998; yet it also states that "the 2007 ...
and enjoyed support from some political elements in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Initially part of the Transitional Government of National Unity (GUNT), the FAO had reportedly divided into pro- and anti-Goukouni
Goukouni Oueddei
Goukouni Oueddei is a Chadian political figure. He was Head of State of Chad from 1979 to 1982. He is currently in exile.-Biography:...
factions. Its leader, Moussa Medela, rejected Acheikh ibn Oumar
Acheikh ibn Oumar
Acheikh ibn Oumar is a Chadian politician and military leader. In the 1980s he led the Democratic Revolutionary Council , a military-political group opposing the government of President Hissène Habré....
as head of GUNT after Goukouni Oueddei
Goukouni Oueddei
Goukouni Oueddei is a Chadian political figure. He was Head of State of Chad from 1979 to 1982. He is currently in exile.-Biography:...
was deposed at the close of 1986. They refused to depose the arms like Goukouni, and were an opposition force also against 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:...
, when they merged with other factions to form the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), led by Medela.