Libya to organize meeting between Chad and Sudan soon

18 April 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Libya announced today that it would resume effort to normalize bilateral relations between Chad and Sudan. A Libyan official said a tripartite summit will be held soon.

Chad broke off diplomatic relations with Sudan Friday 14 April, a day after an attack on N’Djamena by rebel forces seeking to topple Deby, who says they are actively supported by Beshir’s regime.

Libyan Minister of African Affairs Ali al-Triki told SMC news service that Sudanese, Chadian and Libyan foreign ministers will be meeting in Tripoli, Libya, before the end of this month.

He said the ministerial meeting is to prepare a tripartite summit between the heads of states for political reconciliation between Khartoum and N’djamena.

Al tiraki said Libya supports implementation Darfur Peace Agreement signed in Abuja last Friday between the main SLM faction and the Sudanese government.

Chad and Sudan signed a peace deal on February 8 under the aegis of Libya and the African Union agreeing they would not harbour rebels on their territories or conduct mutually hostile activities. The agreement put an end to a months-long row during which the two countries traded accusations of destabilization attempts.

Chad has withdrawn its delegation from African Union-brokered peace talks for Sudan’s troubled western Darfur region because of “Sudanese aggression”. But called for the end of Darfur conflict. Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi said an accord would improve security for his country, which houses more than 200,000 Darfur refugees.

Sudan asked on Saturday 15 April the Libyan embassy in N’Djamena to take care of its interests in Chad, one day after Chadian President Idriss Deby decided to sever diplomatic relations with Sudan and expel Sudanese diplomats from Chad.

(ST)