Rebel armed columns cross from Sudan deep into Chad

May 5, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Chad accused Sudan today of backing an attack by Chadian rebels who are now moving deep inside the eastern part of the country.

The two countries signed an agreement in Doha on Sunday, May 3, to normalize relations; they also pledged to ease tension as the Sudanese and Chadian presidents would meet in Tripoli, Libya soon.

While “the ink has yet to dry on the Doha accord,” Sudan sent two armed columns across the border, Chad’s Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene told state radio. He further said the rebels had penetrated around 100 kilometers (60 miles) inside Chadian territory and were closing in on the town of Goz Beida.

Chadian rebels said several weeks ago they were preparing to launch a new attack against the government in Ndjamena. The Union of Forces of the Resistance (UFR), an alliance of eight of Chadian rebel groups joined together since last year, massed its troops along the joint border.

Since last week skirmishes between the rebels and the Chadian army were noticed along the border. Anticipation of the attack has been for more than a month, as the coming rainy season will make troops movements more difficult.

Forces under the UFR leader Timan Erdimi participated in an assault on the Chadian capital Ndjamena in February 2008, though the offensive was repulsed as it neared the gates of the presidential palace as cracks appeared in the ranks of the rebels.

Sudan and Chad trade accusations of supporting rebel groups. Last January Chad renewed its accusations and said Sudan formed a new rebel group (UFR) and imposed its leader, who is a relative of the Chadian President. Sudan for its part accuses Idriss Deby of arming the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and using it to defend his regime.

Reacting to the Chadian accusations, the Sudanese foreign ministry denied any involvement in the rebel movements and renewed Khartoum’s commitment to reach a normalization deal. Also the Sudan Armed Forces spokesperson said the presence of UFR rebels inside Chad is an internal matter that Sudan has nothing to do with.

France confirmed the rebel incursion inside the Chadian territory from Sudan. They “seem to have entered several tens of kilometers inside Chad,” said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eric Chevallier, who expressed France’s “great concern.”

The rebel UFR also issued a press statement to denounce the overflight of its positions by unidentified fighter planes and urged France to observe strict neutrality.

Till now no direct fighting has been reported from the region between the two warring parties.

The UFR attack could hamper the ongoing diplomatic efforts to make a breakthrough in the stalled relations between Chad and Sudan.

(ST)