United Self-Defense Movement
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| United Self-Defense Movement | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | General Akata Nyanga (Northern Lyoa) General Charles Lafontaine (Eastern Lyoa) |
| Dates of operation | 2014-present |
| Motives | Protection of communities from armed groups |
| Headquarters | Northern Lyoa, Eastern Lyoa |
| Active regions |  Lyoa |
| Allies | Lyoa |
| Opponents | Lyoa (sometimes)  Free Lyoan Army  Army for the Rescue of Lyoa  National Coalition of Lyoan Opposition Forces Tulossa loyalists Lyoan Liberation Forces Lyoan Revolutionary Movement Allied Republican Forces  Holy Resistance Movement Islamic Front Alliance for Liberation and Restoration |
| Battles and wars | Northern Lyoa Conflict Eastern Lyoa Conflict |
The United Self-Defense Movement (abbreviated SDM) is an alliance of numerous self-defense militias across conflict zones in Lyoa. It is a broad coalition of local movements that has a stated goal of protecting their villages and settlements from armed attack. It frequently collaborates with the Lyoa National Defense Force but has clashed with it on several occasions.
As of late 2019, there appears to have been a split in the SDM, with some factions moving closer to anti-government viewpoints or being disillusioned with the SDM's leadership and cause. Fighting has occurred between SDM factions since the alleged split, and confidence in the movement has dropped.