Sudan ratifies economic accord with Chad
May 15, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The federal parliament has ratified a bilateral protocol to promote investments between Sudan and Chad. This move confirms signs of improvement in the relations between the two neighbors.
The National Assembly, chaired by its Deputy Speaker, Atim Garang, Tuesday ratified a bill on agreement on encouragement and protection of investment between the Government of the Sudan and the Government of Chad for the year 2006.
A report was presented to the parliament by the Chairman of Industry, Investment and Trade Committee Abdul Hamid Musa Kasaha.
On the other hand, the state minister at the foreign ministry, al-Samani al-Wasila told the official SUNA that the Chadian president Idriss Deby would visit the Sudan early next June.
The Sudanese official describes the visit as part of the normalization of relations between Sudan and Chad in accordance with Riyadh reconciliation agreement signed on May 3, under the auspices of the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
The Riyadh accord stipulates the encouragement of local economy in Darfur and eastern Chad. Also, it requests the two parties to facilitate trade and investments between the two countries.
Relations between the two countries nosedived after deadly border clashes between Sudanese and Chadian soldiers on April 9, in and around the war-torn Darfur region.
Sudan and Chad accuse each other of supporting rebel forces in their respective territories amid international fears that the continuing strife in Sudan’s western Darfur region will spill over into Chad and ignite a regional war.
(ST)