Background: The Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement, UFDR)
The UFDR is a rebel group created to address marginalization of the Gula ethnic group in northeastern CAR.
In 2006 the UFDR started taking control of strategic diamond-producing towns in northeastern CAR and advancing on Bangui. At the time, Damane Zakaria was the UFDR’s commander on the ground, while Michel Djotodia was active as one of the group’s leaders.
So serious was the UFDR offensive that French troops had to step in to assist the Bozizé government in December 2006.
The UFDR signed a peace agreement in May 2007 with the CAR government and the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement in June 2008, after which it continued to maintain influence over the diamond trade in the Haute-Kotto province.
Its ranks include men who helped overthrow former president Ange-Félix Patassé in 2003 and who felt they were never adequately compensated by President Bozizé.
Source: HRW