Sudan’s Bashir and Chad’s Deby vow to work for peace and stability
February 9, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — President Omer Al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby vowed today to work for peace and regional stability pledging to intervene personally to contain any tension in the future between the two countries.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Al-Bashir stressed the good historical relations between the two countries saying any difference between the two neighbors has no ground but is caused by opposition groups from the both sides, adding they agreed to work personally to prevent any escalation or tension between the two capitals.
“We have completely turned the page, and since today our common combat will be to achieve peace, security and stability, said Al-Bashir, adding “We have decided that the border will be for mutual benefits and social relations and not to be a passageway of weapons”.
He also announced they agreed “to join hands and to work personally and directly to prevent any tensions between the two countries and stand in the face of enemies who will not like the move and seek once again to sabotage relations between the two countries”.
Sudan and Chad had signed different reconciliation agreements in the past but the two countries failed to implement it. Khartoum had also accused Darfur rebels, France and Israel in the past of working to obstruct the normalization of relations.
At the same time in Doha, where there are rebel delegations for peace talks to end the seven year conflict in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement welcomed the return of good relations between the two countries. JEM also said that Chad was only a passage point for the Movement stressing they are not affected by the move.
However the Chadian President Idriss Deby addressed a call to the Sudanese rebels to lay down their arms and to stop hostilities in order to reach a comprehensive solution for Darfur conflict. He also expressed his support to the Doha venue saying “Doha is a perfect place” to resolve Darfur conflict. “Chad stands with these efforts without reservation,” he added.
He also called on Khartoum to soften its position and encourage dialogue with rebels to achieve peace in the troubled region.
The Chadian President appealed on the Chadian rebel groups harbored by the Sudanese government in the restive Darfur region to participate in the legislative election to be held in November this year challenging them to “win power through the ballot box not with bullets”.
However Deby seemed as if he had received some guaranties from the Sudanese president over their support to the rebels. After his return to Ndjamena he told Chadians who gathered to welcome him that “Peace is restored between the peoples of Sudan and Chad. Peace, stability and serenity gradually but quickly will return to our eastern border”.
While Sudan is holding a peace process sponsored by regional and international bodies in Doha, Chad used to refuse to commit itself in any international mediation preferring to manage direct talks with the numerous rebel groups.
Suda,n Darfur region particularly, in the past has been a refuge for Chadian rebels. President Deby himself was once one of a group of rebels who took control of Ndjamena from Darfur. Now due to the same tribal factor that brought the Chadian rebels to Sudan, Darfur rebels have their presence in Chad.
Normalization between Khartoum and Ndjamena would contribute to creating a suitable atmosphere for lasting peace in Darfur but would not be sufficient to end the conflict in western Sudan.
Ahmed Tugud, JEM’s top negotiator warned today in Doha that the continuation of the armed conflict in Darfur would not help to improve the relations between the two countries.
Presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Attabani told reporters in Khartoum that Deby visit to Khartoum would have positive impact on the peace talks in Doha. “Restoration of relations between Khartoum and N’Djamena will act to return Darfur issue to its normal size,” he said.
Djibril Bassole, Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur peace process who was in Khartoum to meet the Chadian president, told Reuters that Deby’s visit will help their efforts to end the conflict.
“This visit will help the Doha talks definitely,” he said, adding the mediation will keep working with the parties who are all present in Doha to reach a framework agreement at this stage.
(ST)