Sudan and Chad agree to normalize ties

May 3, 2009 (DOHA) — Sudan and Chad agreed to normalize relations and to build confidence in order to ease the current tension between the two neighboring countries.

Doha agreement brokered by Qatar and Libya is the fourth after a series of similar deal signed in Tripoli, Riyadh and Dakar. It comes amid reports of military buildup and movement of rebel groups in the both sides of the borders.

The two countries committed themselves on Sunday to consolidate their relations and to implement the agreement they had been reached in the past. The two parties in addition expressed their willing to create an atmosphere of confidence and appropriate conditions to the convening of the Tripoli summit in Libya between the Presidents of the two countries.

Qatar since last February said preparing these negotiations between Chad and Sudan with the Libyan support. It aims to encourage Darfur rebels to seek political settlement with the government.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon welcomed the discussions towards the normalization of bilateral relations between Chad and Sudan.

Last Monday in a briefing to the Security Council, Rodolphe Adada, the head of UNAMID, cited the state of relations between Sudan and Chad as an important factor with regard to the ongoing conflict in Darfur.

Today deal was signed by Mousa Faki Mohamed, Chadian foreign minister and Al Tijani Saleh Fidail, Sudanese minister of international cooperation.

The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Mousa Mohamed Kousa, Libyan Secretary General of the People’s General Committee for Foreign Communication and International Cooperation ( foreign minister) and Ahmed bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud, Qatari state minister for foreign affairs.

(ST)