Union of Resistance Forces

The UFR was founded in mid-January 2009 as an alliance of eight separate rebel groups:{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090119-rebel-groups-unite-overthrow-government-|title=Rebel groups unite to overthrow government|publisher=France24|date=19 January 2009|access-date=10 June 2022}}

{{bulleted list |the Rally of Forces for Change (RFC)|the Union of Forces for Change and Democracy (UFCD)|the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD)|the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development–Fundamental (UFDD-F)|the Democratic Revolutionary Council (CDR)|the Popular Front for National Rebirth (FPRN)|the {{ill|Democratic Union for Change|fr|Union démocratique pour le changement}} (UDC)|the {{ill|Front for the Salvation of the Republic|fr|Front pour le salut de la République}} (FSR)}}

The UFR was established near the end of the Chadian Civil War (2005–2010) by rebel groups opposed to the government of President Idriss Déby. Timane Erdimi, nephew of Déby and leader of the RFC, was appointed the head of the alliance.{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090124-rebels-pick-new-leader-head-unified-group-Timan-Erdimi|title=Rebels pick new leader to head unified group|publisher=France24|date=24 January 2009|access-date=10 June 2022}} UFR forces suffered severe losses to the Chadian Army at the Battle of Am Dam in May 2009 and the Battle of Tamassi in April 2010. The severe casualties suffered by the UFR, along with peace agreements signed between Chad and Sudan, led the alliance to splinter and disperse. It began to reconstitute itself in neighboring Libya in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20190207-raids-contre-ufr-tchad-armee-francaise-tire-premier-bilan|title=Raids contre l'UFR au Tchad: l'armée française tire un premier bilan|publisher=rfi.fr (in French)|date=7 February 2019|access-date=10 June 2022}}

The UFR reportedly took part in the June 2018 Gulf of Sidra Offensive against the Libyan National Army (LNA), attempting to capture the towns of Ras Lanuf and Sidra alongside the Benghazi Defense Brigades.{{cite web|url=https://www.tchadpages.com/tchad-panique-a-ndjamena-apres-lattaque-du-croissant-petrolier-libyen/|title=Tchad: panique à N'Djaména après l'attaque du Croissant pétrolier libyen|publisher=TchadConvergence (in French)|date=27 June 2018|access-date=10 June 2022}} An LNA offensive against rebel groups based in Libya's south led the UFR to re-enter Chad in January of 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/02/08/le-marechal-haftar-fait-des-ricochets-au-sahara_1708022/|title=Le maréchal Haftar fait des ricochets au Sahara|first=Célian|last=Macé|publisher=Libération (in French)|date=8 February 2019|access-date=10 June 2022}} Between February 3 and February 6, 2019, the French Air Force initiated a bombing campaign against UFR targets in the Ennedi Plateau region as part of Operation Barkhane.{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190204-france-chad-air-strikes-convoy-libya|title=French air strikes target convoy entering Chad from Libya|publisher=France24|date=4 February 2019|access-date=10 June 2022}} On 9 February, 2019 the Chadian army claimed to have captured 250 UFR rebels, including four leaders, and destroyed forty vehicles.[https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/chad/au-tchad-lincursion-des-rebelles-devoile-les-fragilites-du-pouvoir Rebel Incursion Exposes Chad's Weaknesses], 13 February 2019

In February 2022, the Transitional Military Council of Chad alleged that the UFR was trying to enlist the Wagner Group to aid them in the ongoing Insurgency in Northern Chad, accusing Timane Erdimi of using an advisor to Central African President Faustin-Archange Touadéra as a middleman to negotiate support.{{cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2026306/world|title = Chad junta accuses rebel head of seeking Russian mercenary help|work=Arab News|date=16 February 2022|access-date=10 June 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Chadian Civil War (2005–2010)

Category:Rebel alliances

Category:Rebel groups in Chad

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