Head of Darfur mission says alarmed by Chad’s crisis

February 3, 2008 (EL FASHER) — The UN-AU Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, expressed concern on the deteriorating security situation in Chad and the impact it could have on the situation in Darfur.

The offensive by three rebel Chadian groups has opened up a new conflict next to Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region, and France suspended the deployment of a European peacekeeping mission in Chad and the Central African Republic that it is meant to lead.

In a press statement issued on Sudan, he also regretted the attacks that led to the crippling of humanitarian activities in region and the evacuation of most of UNHCR staff from the town of Guereda in eastern Chad and the series of armed attacks against aid workers.

Adada further said that the African Continent in particular and the international community in general do not wish to see another bloody conflict in the region, and urges all parties to exercise self-restraint.

The AU-UN envoy reiterates the call of the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that all parties abide by their commitments under the different peace accords signed by them and to urgently resort to dialogue to reach a peaceful and negotiated settlement of this latest crisis.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, “profoundly alarmed” by the fighting in Chad, called Sunday for a ceasefire between government and rebel forces there, as the U.N. Security Council began an emergency session on the crisis.

(ST)