Document #1054004
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to some reports, five factions
claim to represent the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD)
(AFP 3 Jan. 1996; Balencie and de La Grange, . 221). The Western
Armed Forces (Forces armées Occidentales-FAO) and National
Armed Forces of Chad (Forces armées nationales du
Tchad-FANT) constitute the main MDD factions (Balencie and de La
Grange, 221-23). The attached excerpts from Balencie and de La
Grange and Political Handbook of the World: 1995-1996
provide a brief history of the MDD.
According to some reports, the MDD faction
led by Moussa Medella has been active in the region of Lake Chad
(AFP 18 Oct. 1996; ibid. 6 Jan. 1996; RFI 15 Mar. 1995). The Moussa
Medella faction was involved in the March 1995 kidnapping of
Anthony Johnson, a US citizen (Reuters 23 Mar. 1995; RFI 25 Mar.
1995).
Various reports state that while 15 armed
opposition groups present at the 9 January 1996 round table talks
on the political future of Chad in Franceville, Gabon, rejected the
general declaration, Moussa Medella's MDD faction and another group
called Action for Unit and Development (AFUD) signed it (AFP 10
Jan. 1996; Africa News 19 Jan. 1996; RFI 11 Mar. 1996).
According to Africa Research Bulletin, the government of
Chad and a "political military movement, the dissident 'group of
patriots' of the MDD," signed a peace accord in Zinder, Niger, on
30 September 1996 (28 Nov. 1996, 12440).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa News [Durham, NC]. 19
January 1996. "Chad Peace Talks Collapse." (NEXIS)
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 28 November 1996. Vol.
33, No 10. "Chad: New Peace Accord."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 10 January
1996. "Chadian Talks Collapse in Dissent over Framework Document."
(NEXIS)
_____. 6 January 1996. "Round Table
Talks Still Blocked." (NEXIS)
_____. 3 January 1996. "Chadian Factions
to Seek End to 30-Year Civil War." (NEXIS)
Balencie, J. M. and A. de La
Grange.1996. Vol. 1. Mondes rebelles: Acteurs, conflits et
violences politiques. Paris: Éditions Michalon.
Political Handbook of the
World:1996-1996. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY:
CSA Publications.
Radio France Internationale (RFI)
[Paris, in French]. 16 October 1996. "President Idriss Deby
Interviewed on Human Rights, Contacts with Rebels." (BBC Summary 18
Oct. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 10 March 1996. "Chad; Government
and 13 Opposition Parties Sign Agreements in Gabon." (BBC Summary
11 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 25 March 1995. "Chad; Leader of
Opposition MDD Says Abducted American's Release Is Imminent." (BBC
Summary 27 Mar. 1995/NEXIS)
_____. 15 March 1995. "Niger; French
Radio Reports on Background to Clashes in East." (BBC Summary 18
Mar. 1995/NEXIS)
Reuters. 23 March 1995. BC Cycle. "U.S.
Demands Immediate Release of Diabetic in Chad." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Africa News [Durham, NC]. 19
January 1996. "Chad Peace Talks Collapse." (NEXIS)
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 28 November 1996. Vol.
33, No 10. "Chad: New Peace Accord," p. 12440
Agence France Presse (AFP). 10 January
1996. "Chadian Talks Collapse in Dissent over Framework Document."
(NEXIS)
_____. 6 January 1996. "Round Table
Talks Still Blocked." (NEXIS)
_____. 3 January 1996. "Chadian Factions
to Seek End to 30-Year Civil War/" (NEXIS)
Balencie, J. M. and A. de La Grange.
1996. Vol. 1. Mondes rebelles: Acteurs, conflits et violences
politiques. Paris: Éditions Michalon, p. 221-223.
Political Handbook of the
World:1995-1996. Edited by Arthur S. Banks.
Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 177-78
Radio France Internationale (RFI)
[Paris, in French]. 16 October 1996. "President Idriss Deby
Interviewed on Human Rights, Contacts with Rebels." (BBC Summary 18
Oct. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 10 March 1996. "Chad; Government
and 13 Opposition Parties Sign Agreements in Gabon." (BBC Summary
11 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 25 March 1995. "Chad; Leader of
Opposition MDD Says Abducted American's Release Is Imminent." (BBC
Summary 27 Mar. 1995/NEXIS)
_____. 15 March 1995. "Niger; French
Radio Reports on Background to Clashes in East." (BBC Summary 18
Mar. 1995/NEXIS)
Reuters. 23 March 1995. BC Cycle. "U.S.
Demands Immediate Release of Diabetic in Chad." (NEXIS)