AU sees virtual peace in Darfur after accord with Chad

By Tesfa -Alem Tekle

February 15, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) — The African union (AU) commission said that the peace agreement reached last week between Sudan and Chad is an important input to the ongoing efforts in restoring peace and security in the restive Darfur Region

Chadian president Idriss Deby paid a two days visit last week to Sudan ending officially more than five years of tension between Khartoum and N’djamena. They two countries agreed to deploy a joint border force to prevent rebel cross-border attack and agreed on a series of steps to promote economic and social activities .

AU commission chairman, Jean ping on Friday said that the agreement signed between Sudan and Chad to normalize their ties has opened a new hope to end Darfur problems and also to end the cycle of insecurity at the border region.

“We at the AU welcome such an agreement between Sudan and Chad .This will no doubt have a positive impact on Darfur conflict. This is a new and serious agreement” ping said

Ties between Sudan and Chad have been quite tense for years, with both trading accusations of supporting rebel groups one the other to destabilize their respective governments.

Relations between the two neighbors improved last year after a high level talks aimed at ending rebel’s cross border attacks brought an agreement to create a joint border security force.

Last week’s land mark agreement between Sudan and Chad comes after President Idriss Deby of Chad Paid a visit to Khartoum and held constructive talks with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al Basher

The two African leaders agreed to work for peace, to take measures against rebel groups operating on each other’s soil and also agreed to build their border areas.

They have also agreed to launch joined projects to help those affected by the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region, which borders Chad.

(ST)