Central African leaders meet to back Chad in Sudan dispute

Jan 4, 2005 (N’DJAMENA) — Regional heads of state met Wednesday to back Chad in its war of words with Sudan over a brewing rebellion in eastern Chad.

Chadian President Idriss Deby asked for a one-day heads of state meeting of the five-nation Central African Economic and Monetary Community to rally regional support in his accusations Sudan is instigating two nascent rebel groups in eastern Chad that have launched periodic attacks since October.

The African Union had called for a separate meeting in Libya Wednesday to discuss the Chad-Sudan tensions.

“This aggression of Chad occurs at a moment when issues of insecurity in the sub-region are of great concern,” said Jean Nkuete, executive secretary of Central African Economic and Monetary Community, making reference to Cameroon’s own dispute with Nigeria.

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community headquartered in Bangui, Central African Republic. The organization concentrates on economic issues but also acts on security concerns even though it doesn’t have a formal defense pact.

Nkuete said the meeting should come up with a common position to address the threat of aggression faced by members.

Equatorial Guinean Prime Minister Miguel Abia Riteo said Chad’s grievances should be presented at the African Union’s next heads of state meeting, scheduled to be held from Jan. 16 to Jan. 24 in Khartoum, Sudan.

“Anything that touches a CEMAC state member, affects the rest of CEMAC countries,” said Riteo.

Deby renewed his call that Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir decline to take up the chairmanship of the African Union. He may be chosen when Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s term ends this year.

Sudan will host a heads of state meeting later this month.

Chadian rebels clashed with security forces, leading to the death of than 300 people, mainly insurgents, in Adre on Dec. 18. The town is on the border with Sudan, some 1,000 kilometers east of the Chadian capital, N’djamena.

The Chadian army said the clash in Adre was with two rebel groups – the Rally for Democracy and Freedom and the Foundation for Change, Unity and Democracy.

Rebel soldiers and former high-ranking government officials have formed the Foundation for Change, Unity and Democracy that reportedly seeks to overthrow Deby, although its aims are not clear.

It is not clear who makes up the Rally for Democracy and Freedom.

(AP/ST)