Sudan regrets Chad’s pullout from Darfur mediation

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Apr 14, 2005 (PANA) — Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Osman
Ismail has expressed regrets over Chad’s decision to suspend its
mediatory role between Khartoum and rebel movements in the
western Darfur region, media reports said here Thursday.

“We (the government) hope that Chad continues its crucial role to
enhance political settlement of the Darfur conflict,” Ismail told
journalists here Wednesday, but noted “we can’t compel Chad to do
so.”

On Tuesday a senior aide of President Idriss Deby announced that
Chad was suspending its mediation in the Darfur conflict that has
reportedly claimed over 150,000 lives and uprooted millions of
others, some seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad.

“We cannot be pursuing efforts to reconcile a country that seeks
to destabilise Chad,” presidential adviser Ahmed Allam-mi
declared, days after N’djamena accused Khartoum of providing a
base for a 3,000-strong armed Chadian opposition group.

Reacting to the announcement, Ismail reiterated that “Chad has
the right to take any action it thinks could stabilise security
along its borders. We have told the Chadians this previously.”

The foreign minister stressed that the Khartoum government will
spare no effort to pave the way for a lasting solution to the
conflict in Darfur in collaboration with other African countries.