African panel visits Sudan to probe ties with Chad

November 2, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – An African Union fact finding committee to probe Sudan-Chad relations is expected on Monday in Khartoum where it will begin it mission.

Headed by the former president of Burundi Pierre Buyoya, the mision of the panel was decided by the African Union summit of Sharm Al-Sheikh last July.

Sudan had accused Chad of supporting and financing a raid of the Sudanese capital by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement on May 10. Following the attack Sudan had broke off relations with Chad.

However, the two countries agreed to restore relations last August thank you a Libyan mediation. The Chadian diplomats are expected to arrive in Khartoum during the next week.

The head of the African Union Department at the Sudanese foreign ministry, Ibrahim Ahmed Abdul-Karim said that the AU delegation would meet with a number of Sudanese officials. They will visit Darfur and meet with a number of officials there.

The committee will discuss ways to avoid disputes between Sudan and Chad and realizing cordial relations between them.

The fact-finding committee’s delegation includes three former Foreign Ministers of Nigeria, Mauritania and Burkina Faso.

Following the expected exchange of ambassadors, Dakar mechanism group would meet in the Chadian capital within two weeks to discuss the deployment of the joint border patrols and the issue of the presence of rebel groups in both countries.

Since 2005, Sudan and Chad accused each other of supporting their respective opposition groups. Different accords brokered by many countries had been signed between the two countries but in vain.

Besides, the Libyan mediation which succeeded to convince the two countries to resume bilateral ties, there is a contact group charged with the implementation of Dakar Agreement signed last March.

(ST)