Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebel attack in North darfur
Oct 12, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan officially accused neighboring Chad of backing a Darfur rebel attack on the positions of its army near the joint border between the two countries.
The Sudanese accusations are confirmed by different sources contacted by Sudan Tribune. Chadian army dispatched two units les by commander Suoleyman Dagache and Commander Aram Kollé to support the National Redemption Front’s attack against the positions of the Sudanese army in the areas of Kari Yari and Um Sidir in North Darfur.
The Sudanese army has deployed since July around 30.000 soldiers on the Chadian border in order to put pressure on the holdout rebels and force them to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement signed with a former rebel faction led by Minni Minawi.
The direct objective for the rebel NRF is to establish a corridor with its troops inside Darfur for supply and ammunitions. Moreover, The NRF aims to break Sudanese army blockade on its troops in the region.
Besides, the ethnic solidarity between the Zagawah, the Chadian president is much interested by the deployment of the international forces in Sudan’s Darfur region because it will stop — as it is clearly stipulated in the UN resolution 1706 — the Chadian rebels from carrying military operations against the N’djamena from Darfur.
Reliable sources indicated that N’djamena’s need to the UN troops on the ground in Darfur. Therefore, it considers that more military operations in the region would force the international community to intensify pressures on Khartoum to accept the presence of the UN troops.
According to Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Chadian involvement in the attack was decided by “the presidential entourage” without Deby’s knowledge, but different sources said that the Chadian president personally was orchestrating his troops participation.
President Deby encouraged such move, because he is unable to convince his commanders to quell a rebellion in which a Zagawha faction is involved.
Sudanese rebel sources say Khartoum is mobilizing the Chadian rebel FUC led by Mahamat Nour – form the Chad’s Tama ethnic group — to participate in an attack under preparation. But, a Tama leader told Sudan Tribune that they would not allow Nour to use their people as it was the case in the past to realize Khartoum objectives.
He further said that Nour is weakened and has no much influence among his group, because the Tama want to topple down the Chadian regime and not to play for Khartoum.
Sudan after the failure of 13 April attack against N’djamena marked its distance with Mahamat Nour and his Chadian rebel group.
The Sudanese army public accusation against Chad comes as a clear indication that preparations are undergoing in Darfur region for a major counteroffensive against rebel positions.
“Honorable citizens, we would like to reaffirm to you that your armed forces will respond in force and steadfastness to all those who seek to undermine the security and the stability of this homeland,” Sudanese army spokesperson Mohamed Osman Aghbash said in the statement.
Sources said Sudan might dare to attack Chadian army positions directly if they participate in the expected Sudanese attack. But, the Sudanese army statement affirmed Sudan’s keenness to maintain good relations with Chad; without elaborating.
Gazi Salah Eddin Attabani during his meeting with the French officials in Paris this week expressed the growing irritation in Khartoum against Chad. He told the French officials that Sudan would retaliate against this aggression.
He also accused Chadian troops of the arrest of the Sudanese general during the attacks of Kari Yari and Um Sidir in Darfur last Saturday 6 October. He indicated that the Sudanese general was arrested by Chadian troops and delivered to the Darfur rebels.
Contacted by the RFI Khalil Ibrahim, one of rebel NRF leaders, denied the accusation. He said that there were no any Chadian elements in Saturday attack.
Analysts say the situation in Darfur nowadays is similar to the aftermath of the first rebel SLM attack against Al-Fasher airport in February 2003: Khartoum mobilized the Jajaweed militias and the starting of Darfur killing that led to the massive displacement of IDPs and refugees.
They add that this attack would give Sudanese government the pretext to push back the international pressure to stop military operations in the region.
(ST)