Burhan, Hemetti to hold talks with Chad’s Deby over border security
January 27, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Head of the Sovereign Council and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemett” will separately travel to Ndjamena for talks with Mahamat Idriss Déby Chairman of the Transitional Military Council of Chad.
The two visits intervene after the closure of the border with the Central African Republic and reports about the presence of rebel groups hostile to the Russian-backed President Faustin-Archange Touadéra on the triangle area between the two countries and Chad.
A senior diplomat told Sudan Tribune that Burhan’s visit to the Chadian capital will take place on Sunday to discuss three main issues: the presence of armed groups on the border, security breaches and recent tribal disputes.
The diplomat expected that Déby would inform Burhan about the armed groups present on the border area with Sudan and Central Africa.
He added that besides the security issues, the two leaders would discuss activities of the joint Chadian Sudanese forces, the recent attempt to overthrow the transitional government in Chad, and coordination in the exchange of information.
On January 5, Chad foiled an attempt by a group of army officers to “undermine constitutional order”. The attempt was headed Baradine Berdei Targuio, President of the Chadian Human Rights Organisation, according to the security services in Ndjamena.
Also, officials in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) confirmed to Sudan Tribune that Hemetti would travel to Ndjamena on Monday for talks on border security, and tribal attacks.
The sources further stressed that the RSF commander had to travel to Chad since last week, upon an invitation from President Deby.
On January 21, General Idriss Youssouf Boy, cabinet director at the Chadian presidency was in Khartoum where he met with al-Burhan and Hemetti.
The Sovereign Council announced on the same day that the special envoy handed over an invitation to visit Ndjamena to al-Burhan but did not mention the invitation for his deputy.
On January 26, Paris-based African Intelligence reported that Hemetti deployed about 500 RSF elements inside the CAR to support Russian contractors of the Wagner group and the forces of the Central African army.
On January 3, Hemetti officially said that his troops are deployed along the border area with CAR to prevent plans to overthrow President Touadéro.
The confidential newsletter underscored that the northern part of CAR serves as a rear base for Chadian Arab rebel groups.
If the Russians control the northern CAR, “several Western chancelleries fear that the border triangle area will serve as a starting point for a destabilization of the transition of Mahamat Idriss Déby, known as ‘Kaka’, in N’Djamena,” stressed the report.
If this report is confirmed the operation inside the neighbouring CAR would be the first joint military action between Wagner contractors and the RSF elements.
(ST)