Chad to hand over Darfur rebels to African Union

Aug 28, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Chad has announced its determination to hand over members of Darfur rebel groups which are opposed to the peace deal signed between Sudanese government and a Darfur rebel faction in Abuja last May.

The Chadian Foreign minister has announced the determination of N‘djamena to hand over around 30 members of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) faction which has refused to sign the Abuja Peace Agreement for Darfur and another 17 members of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to the African Union.

Speaking to the press after attending the joint-talks between Sudan and Chad at the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, the Chadian foreign minister, Ahmat Allam-Mi, said that “We are waiting for arrangements from the AU regarding this issue”, pointing out that the AU had agreed to the handing over.

On Sunday, Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmat Allami and Sudanese counterpart Lam Akol Ajawin announced the creation of a joint military-security commission and a joint force to secure their border.

(ST)