Darfur rebels condemn Sudan’s intervention in Chad’s affairs
February 5, 2008 (PARIS) — Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement has condemned the Sudanese intervention in Chad’s internal affairs by backing rebels who attempted to topple President Deby, a rebel official said.
Chad accused Sudan of giving military backing to rebels who attempted to oust President Idriss Deby in a new attack on Sunday. The campaign by three rebel commanders has opened up a new conflict next to Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region and delayed the deployment of European peacekeepers in Chad.
Ahmed Hussein Adam, the JEM spokesman, told Sudan Tribune that Justice and Equality Movement “strongly condemn the Sudan’s government intervention in the Chadian affairs, in particular, the recent operation financed planned and managed by Khartoum.”
He further said that this interference violates the traditions of the Sudanese people and the principle of good-neighbourliness and the charters of the United Nations and the African Union.
He welcomed the decision of the Security Council describing it as step in the right direction. However he said that Security Council had to condemn Khartoum under Chapter VII because “it stands behind this operation threatened to security and international peace.”
The U.N. Security Council Monday unanimously condemned the rebel attacks in Chad and urged member states to back the Ndjamena government as the insurgents threatened a new offensive.
The rebel official said that Khartoum also revealed its determination to spread chaos in the entire region from Chad to the Darfur region, and to destabilize the Chadian regime to make the situation in Darfur a hopeless for the international community.
He said the timing of this operation indicates clearly Sudan’s intention to obstruct the deployment of the European Union peacekeeping force that supposed to protect refugees from the Darfur conflict in Chad and Central Africa Republic.
“We condemn the Sudanese intervention because its timing is aimed at impending deployment of European force while we have increasing concern for the situation of Darfur refugees in Chad.”
“We are also concerned that this process will hinder the solution and the containment of Darfur conflict in its humanitarian, political and security aspects.” He added.
The Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said in the past that the world would forget the issue of Darfur in 2008, he reminded.
He also denied the participation of JEM troops in the fighting against Sudan backed Chadian rebels saying reports on the issue are false propaganda disseminated by Khartoum government to divert attention from its involvement in the aborted coup.
(ST)