Sudan, Chad endorse plan to monitor border joint border
April 29, 2008 (TRIPOLI) — Military expert from Sudan and Chad discussed during a two-day meeting in the Libyan capital the deployment of an African force. They endorsed a plan to monitor the border between the two countries.
The group of contact established by Dakar Agreement between the Sudan and Chad has agreed to deploy military monitors through the 1500 km long common border between the two countries. Tripoli meeting was convened by the group to agree on the need for the monitoring force.
The joint military committee on the control of Sudan-Chad border agreed on the financial and logistical means to enforce the non-aggression deals signed between the two countries. Further they determined the position of eight checkpoints to be opened besides the existing two points.
The two neighbouring countries also agreed to provide the necessary troops for the monitoring operations. It was agreed to deploy seven observers at every monitoring point including one from Chad and another from Sudan.
The committee discussed ways to accelerate the deployment of observers on the joint border in order to stop the security deterioration in Darfur and eastern Chad. This measure is considered as a crucial to bring confidence between the two neighbours
The technical agreement of the joint committee will be submitted to the second ministerial meeting of the group of contact which is scheduled to be held on 12-13 May in Tripoli, Libya
Libya has pledged a total of 2 million U.S. dollars to finance the operations of the force, while Senegal and the Republic of Congo have pledged to provide troops to man the operation.
In the past Sudan accused Chad of foot dragging on the deployment of the African monitoring force, a matter the two countries had agreed since the Tripoli agreement in February 2006.
A Western military source, speaking on condition of anonymity to Sudan Tribune, blamed Chad for the non-implementation of the previous deal. “Deby changes his mind every time on this issue due to internal pressures” the sources disclosed.
According to a non-aggression pact signed in the Senegalese capital, on the sidelined of the Islamic Conference summit on March 13, the two countries agreed to deploy a monitoring force to ensure stability on the joint border and to establish a contact group composed of Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya and Senegal.
(ST)