Chad accuses Sudan of recruiting mercenaries

Jan 2, 2005 (N’DJAMENA) — The Chadian government late Monday accused neighboring Sudan of “recruiting mercenaries to attack Chad” and inflame conflicts in the area.

“The (Sudanese) government of Omar Hassan El-Bechir, with its policy of inflaming conflict in the sub-region starting with Chad, continues to recruit mercenaries” and “reorganize adventurers” by giving them the financial means and material “to come attack our country,” said government spokesman Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor in a statement.

Chad’s government has called on the African Union (AU) and the international community to help avoid a further escalation of the conflict which could have “incalculable consequences”, the statement added.

Chad declared a “state of war” with Sudan last week following a December 18 attack on the town of Adre, on the border between the two countries, by Chadian rebel groups which N’Djamena claims are supported by Khartoum.

An extraordinary meeting of the heads of state of the Economic and Monetary Community of Centra Africa (CEMAC) is scheduled to be held here Wednesday to address the deteriorating relations between Chad and Sudan.

(AFP/ST)