Unrest in Chad threatens regional security – AU

Nov 16, 2005 (N’DJAMENA) — A brewing rebellion in Chad threatens regional security, the top African Union official said Wednesday.

Attacks on two military camps in Chad earlier this week had been linked to a possible rebellion. The attacks occurred after soldiers deserted several military camps and regrouped in eastern Chad – near the border with Sudan’s volatile Darfur region, scene of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The unrest has forced people to flee the region and take shelter in Darfur. Aid workers are worried that civil war in eastern Chad could undermine efforts to end the conflict in Darfur.

African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare called for a negotiated solution to the crisis in Chad to avoid further destabilizing the fragile region.

Konare reiterated “the AU’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes within the framework of, and respect for, the institutions of the country,” according to a statement.

Chad, among the world’s poorest countries despite newly tapped oil riches, has a history of armed, clan-based conflicts interspersed with iron-handed rule by military chieftains.

(AP/ST)