Chadian president, French Presidential envoy discuss tension with Sudan
May 24, 2009 (PARIS) — French Presidential adviser for African affairs discussed Sunday with the Chadian President the ongoing tension with the Sudan after an attack by the Khartoum supported rebels in eastern Sudan earlier this month.
Bruno Joubert delivered a message from the President Nicolas Sarkozy to his Chadian counterpart dealing with the current tension between the two neighboring countries, announced a communiqué posted on the official website of the Chadian presidency today.
“Bruno Joubert came (to Ndjamena) to ask the head of state Idriss Deby Itno on the last Sudanese aggression and the evolution of the situation on the ground after the debacle of mercenaries in Am-Dam, and Am-Dress Haouich”.
The French foreign ministry following the attack pointed out that the rebels had launched their attack from the Sudan. Paris also supported the Chadian request to the UN Security Council to condemn Khartoum for its support to the rebel groups.
The Chadian presidency said that Deby “expressed his gratitude to France, initiator of the last resolution adopted by the United Nations condemning Sudan for its attempts to destabilizing Chad.”
However, the Security Council in a presidential statement following the attack condemned only the Chadian rebels and refused to mention the Sudanese government. China and Libya were opposed to the move and Ndjamena protested to the two countries against their position.
Also following three aerial raids carried out by Chad inside the Sudanese territory, Paris advised Ndjamena to avoid military escalade with Khartoum. Sudan had warned it would attack Chad if it resumes incursions inside the Sudanese territory.
France has a military cooperation deal with Chad and not a mutual defense treaty. But, Sudanese officials and pro-government press accuse France of supporting the Chadian army in its attacks on the rebels’ positions in the Sudan.
Paris which supports the Doha process to end the Darfur conflict seek to avoid military escalation between the two countries because it would lead to the collapse of the ongoing efforts to end the Sudanese conflict.
The Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud who is currently in Khartoum is expected to visit Ndjamena to reactivate the normalization deal signed between the two countries in the framework of the Doha process.
(ST)