Sudan’s Mahdi proposes tribal conference to ease Sudan Chad tension
April 15, 2008 (PARIS) — The Former Sudanese Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Umma Party proposed to hold a conference for the tribal and traditional leader of all the ethnic groups disseminated between the Sudan and Chad.
The Chadian President, Idriss Deby received Sadiq al-Mahdi in the Presidential Palace on Monday April 14, 2008 to discuss a peace plan to defuse tension between the two neighbouring countries.
A Umma Party delegation led by Sadiq al-Mahdi proposed a plan to reconcile Khartoum and N’Djamena. A Chadian official, who requested anonymity, said the former Prime Minister suggested to hold a conference for the tribal leaders in the war affected areas in eastern Chad and western Sudan to reconcile them.
“Al-Mahdi proposed to convene this meeting for the traditional leaders because he believes that the solution should come from the ground” the source said.
The Zaggawa ethnic group, Al-Mahamiyed and Tama tribes are among groups concerned groups living in Chad and Sudan and involved in the internal conflicts in the two countries.
According to the Chadian Presidency website, Sadiq al-Mahdi told Deby he can not remain indifferent towards current conflict between Chad and Sudan, two neighbouring countries, linked by history. He further said that his plan aiming at re-establishing “peace and harmony between the two countries.”
“The proposal will be discussed by the highest authorities in Chad who, I am sure, will give their agreement in principle,” al-Mahdi said following the meeting. He further pledged that the Umma Party will do its utmost to achieve the objective he has set: reconciliation between Chad and Sudan.
Darfur region was considered as the most important popular base for the Umma Party before the 1989 Islamist coup d’etat led by General Omer al-Bashir.
The meeting was attended by the Chadian Ambassador to Sudan, Baharadine Haroun, and two members from the Umma Party.
(ST)