Darfur former rebel leader visits Chad to defuse tension
January 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A Darfur former rebel leader who signed Abuja peace deal is expected to fly tomorrow to the Chadian capital in a bid to defuse the tension between the two countries.
Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Arko Menawi will travel on Thursday to N’djamena on a two-day visit seeking to use his relations with the Chadian president to ease the current tension between the two neighboring countries.
“Relations between Sudan and Chad must return to normal because of the neighbourliness and social link,” said Menawi today.
He further said he would discuss with Chadian President Idris Deby the relations between the two countries because they are associated with the efforts of resolving Darfur issue, hoping that the efforts will succeed to serve the interests of the two countries.
Following a meeting with the French Ambassador to Sudan, Christine Robichon, the Sudanese official also expressed appreciation to France’s efforts to defuse tension and normalise relations between the Sudan and Chad.
The Chadian minister of Interior Ahmat Mahamat Bachir said N’djamena would not discuss with Sudanese president Al-Bashir “because he just speaks but does not implement what he says.”
These accusations could complicate the task of the former rebel leader who was a close ally to the Chadian president.
On 27 January, the Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, tried with the Egyptian and the Eritrean presidents in a meeting held in Tripoli to reconcile the two presidents but their efforts have failed.
Sudan says Chad didn’t implement Tripoli agreement signed in February 2006 and asks Chad to provide troops for the agreed joint patrols to monitor the border.
Earlier in January, AU-UN joint envoy for Darfur expressed concern over the growing tension between Sudan and Chad saying it could affect the displaced, refugees in the region and the deployment of the hybrid peacekeeping force.
Rodolphe Adada said that IDPs and refugees would be the first victims of the ongoing tension between Sudan and the neighbouring Chad; where there are around 230 000 Sudanese refugees settled in 12 camps along the 700 kilometre border with the Sudan.
(ST)