Sudanese minister demands guarantees for Chad border crossing to remain open

October 22, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), laid out conditions on Tuesday for the Sudanese government to extend the opening of the Adré border crossing with Chad for humanitarian aid deliveries.

Ibrahim’s demands follow his recent call to close the Adré crossing, which he alleges has become a key supply route for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ibrahim said two conditions must be met before considering an extension. He insisted on the presence of Sudanese customs police, standards officials, and intelligence agents on both sides of the border, backed by international protection forces. He also demanded X-ray scanners to verify cargo.

The Sovereign Council opened the Adré crossing on August 15 for three months to allow humanitarian aid into Darfur following pressure from the United Nations, Western governments, and aid agencies.

The UN reported on October 15 that more than 200 trucks carrying aid for 615,000 people, including those facing famine, had crossed since the reopening.

The Adré crossing is in West Darfur state, which fell under RSF control in November 2023. The Sudanese army says the RSF uses the crossing to bring in weapons from the United Arab Emirates.

JEM is fighting alongside the army, which has forces deployed in North and West Darfur, Gedaref in the east, and the capital, Khartoum.

The United Nations, African Union, United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Switzerland have urged Sudan to keep the Adré crossing permanently open and to allow aid flights to use Kadugli Airport in South Kordofan.

Last Friday, the Sovereign Council agreed to open the airports in Kadugli, Dongola in Northern state, El Obeid in North Kordofan, and Kassala in eastern Sudan for aid flights. It also announced plans to transport aid from Juba Airport in South Sudan to Kadugli Airport.