UNAMID chief, Sudan official discuss military build-up on Chad border

March 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Joint Special Representative of the African-Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Rodolphe Adada, met today in Khartoum with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Mutrif Siddiq, to discuss “rising tensions on the Chadian-Sudanese border.”

Sudan-backed rebels and militias have launched attacks on Chad in each of the last three dry seasons, including assaults on the Chadian capital in 2006 and 2008. Currently up to 5,000 rebels are gathering on the Sudan side of the border, an Irish commandant with the Chad-based EUFOR peacekeeping mission disclosed last week.

The Irish officer expected the invasion could follow the International Criminal Court announcement this week of an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir. Meanwhile, the commander of a Chad-based Darfur rebel group, Khalil Ibrahim, said in an interview from outside N’Djamena, the Chadian capital that his JEM forces would aim to topple Al-Bashir in the wake of the ICC indictment, though a spokesperson downplayed the statement.

Given this context, Siddiq and Adada discussed the current situation in West Darfur, particularly the rising tensions on the Chadian-Sudanese border, according to UNAMID. The two officials also discussed the “increase of banditry activities” in the state capital, El Geneina.

“Dr. Siddiq promised to address these issues and to try and find adequate solutions in consultation with UNAMID. He also reiterated the commitment of the Government of Sudan (GoS) to ensure the safety and security of UNAMID personnel and facilities,” said UNAMID.

They also discussed the flight of thousands of civilians from fighting in South Darfur last month. These displaced people have been arriving to the Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near El Fasher, in North Darfur.

According to the statement, Adada will travel Monday to Nyala, South Darfur, and El Geneina, West Darfur, where he will meet the local authorities and inspect the work of UNAMID on the ground.

Arms flows through El Geneina are a major supply source for Chadian rebels, according to a report released last November by a UN panel of arms control experts. Sudan has sent up to three daily flights of arms and other equipment to El Geneina, the experts claimed, saying that the town was a liaison point for leaders of the Chadian armed groups and the Sudanese intelligence service (NISS). The report stated, “ground troops receive their allotted military supplies directly from NISS storehouses along with training in and around El Geneina.”

Today, Jean Ping the chairman of the African Union Commission said concerned by the tension in the border between the two countries. He said he “continues to follow the evolution of the situation in Chad and on the border between that country and Sudan.” Further, he said the Au will meet to discuss the shaky relations without elaboration.

(ST)