The party, which was founded by Kamougué, was founded in March 1992 and legalized in May 1992.[3] In the 1996 presidential election, Kamougué, as the URD candidate, took second place in the first round on June 2 with 12.39% of the vote; in the second round, held on July 3, he was defeated by incumbent President Idriss Déby, taking 30.91% of the vote compared to Déby's 69.09%.[4]