Front for Change and Concord in Chad
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| Front for Change and Concord in Chad | |
|---|---|
| Front pour l’alternance et la concorde au Tchad | |
| Leader | Mahamat Mahdi Ali |
| Foundation | 2016 |
| Split from | UFDD |
| Country | Chad |
| Motives | Anti-Chadian government |
| Headquarters | Fezzan |
| Ideology | Democracy |
| Status | active |
| Size | Between 900 and 1,500 combatants (2019)[1][2] |
| Allies | Third Force (2016-2017) LNA (2019-2021) |
| Opponents |  Chad LNA (2016-2017)  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| Battles and wars | Second Libyan Civil War Insurgency in Northern Chad |
The Front for Change and Concord in Chad (French: Front pour l’alternance et la concorde au Tchad), or FACT, is a political and military organisation created by SG Mahamat Mahdi Ali in March 2016 in Tanua, in the north of Chad, with the goal of overthrowing the government of Chad.[3][4] It is a splinter group of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development.[3] Ali declared his preparation for military operations against President Idriss Déby. The group was responsible for the death of Déby in April 2021, when he was killed while commanding troops on the frontline fighting the militants.
Military actions
Second Libyan Civil War
In June 2016, the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR) split from FACT.[5]
In December 2016, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces bombed FACT forces twice in the Jufra District, resulting in one death. A few months later in June 2017, a militia group allied with FACT, Third Force, handed over the Jufra District to the LNA. FACT was allowed to remain there under a tacit non-aggression pact with the LNA. The LNA tried to get FACT to join its forces, but FACT wanted to remain neutral; their staying neutral hurt their ability to secure roads against bandits and terrorists.[6]
From late 2017 to October 2018, FACT forces experienced clashes with ISIS. These clashes resulted in the death of at least 3 Chadians and 2 jihadis.[6] At some point FACT signed a non-aggression pact with the LNA.[7]
Insurgency in Northern Chad
On the evening of 11 April 2021, the day of the Chadian presidential election, FACT attacked a Chadian border post in northern Chad just as polling stations were closing.[8] In return, they were attacked by government forces.[9]
On 17 April 2021, the British government said that two armed convoys from FACT were advancing towards the capital of N'Djamena. The Chadian army claimed they destroyed one FACT convoy in the province of Kanem while another was seen approaching the town of Mao.[8]
On 20 April 2021, President Idriss Déby was fatally wounded on the front lines of the conflict just over a week after he was re-elected President for a 6th term. General Mahamat Déby Itno, son of the deceased President, was declared the interim President as head of a military junta.[10]
References
- ^ https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2017/466
- ^ https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/76034
- ^ a b "Front for Alternation and Concord in Chad (FACT) - Chad | Terrorist Groups | TRAC". www.trackingterrorism.org. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ El-Gamaty, Guma. "Regional interference is threatening Libya's future as one state". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Libyan strongman bombed Chad rebels, his forces say". Arab News. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Lost in Trans nation" (PDF). Small Arms Survey: 54–55.
- ^ "Who are the rebels that killed Chadian president Deby?". Who are the rebels that killed Chadian president Deby?. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ a b "U.S. embassy to withdraw staff as Chad rebels advance". Reuters. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Chad: U.S. Orders Diplomats to Leave Chad As Rebels Near Capital". AllAfrica. DW, AFP, AP. 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Chad President Idriss Deby dies visiting front-line troops: Army". Al Jazeera. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
External links
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