FM Alor to take part in Asmara meeting on Sudan-Chad ties
August 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Foreign Minister Deng Alor will lead the Sudanese delegation participating in the ministerial meeting of the Contact Group on the implementation of the Dakar peace Agreement between Sudan and Chad.
The meeting will be held in Eritrean capital Asmara on 12 September, while a preparatory meeting of experts will take place on 11 September.
Eritrea which is part of the contact group charged with the implementation of Dakar Agreement between Sudan and Chad, had to host this meeting on August 26 to discuss mechanisms related to the deployment of the joint patrols throughout border between the two countries.
However the meeting had been delayed due to the calendar of the foreign ministers of the contact group.
The Ministerial Meeting will discuss the convening of a summit of heads of states to normalize relations between Sudanese and Chadian. The two neighbouring countries agreed to restore bilateral relations on August 1 following a Libyan mediation.
Also it would discuss the deployment of joint units to monitor the border between the two countries in order to prevent rebel infiltration from both sides.
Relations between Sudan and Chad are very volatile since 2004 when Khartoum started to suspect N’Djamena of backing Darfur rebels. Since, the two countries accuse each other of supporting internal armed opposition.
On March 13, Sudan and Chad signed Dakar Agreement, deal brokered by Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade. However, Sudan following a rebel attack on the capital Khartoum on May 10 severed relations with N’Djamena and accused it of supporting the raid.
The members of the contact group are: Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Eritrea, Libya and Senegal.
(ST)