Deterioration of Sudan-Chad relations hurts Darfur region
15 June 2009 (UNITED NATIONS) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the ongoing tension and the deterioration of Sudan Chad relations, stressing it would further destabilize the already volatile Darfur region.
The Secretary General underlined the attacks by Chadian troops inside the Sudanese territory on 16 and 17 May against the positions of the Chadian opposition. He also pointed to the bellicose statements made by the Chadian officials on their intent to pursue their military incursions.
“This is the language of escalation at a time when all parties should be focused on restraint. I wish to underscore that there is no military solution to the situation in the sub-region and that peaceful relations between Chad and the Sudan are a prerequisite to peace in Darfur.”
He further called on Sudan and Chad to refrain from military escalation and to implement agreements signed by both countries to end this tension, ” in particular the Doha Agreement of 3 May 2009 and the Dakar Agreement of 13 March 2008.”
Chadian rebels clashed with government troops in the eastern part of the country on May 4, one day after the signing of an agreement to normalize relations between the two neighboring on May 3 in Doha.
Ndjamena accuses Sudan of supporting Chadian rebels while Khartoum says rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) receive logistical support and weapons from the Chadian army.
Mr Ban also condemned the attacks carried by JEM rebels on Um Baru near the joint border with Chad saying it puts “civilian lives at risk” and “seriously undermines efforts to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict.”
Reviewing UNAMID’s operations for the months of March and April in Darfur, Ban puts the mission’s current deployment at some 13,455 out of a total authorized strength of 19,555, or at 68 per cent.
He asserted in his 10 page report that “continued lack of key military enabling units,” such as 18 medium utility helicopters, as well as transport and aerial reconnaissance units, continue to be a concern.
The UN top official stressed that the need for a negotiated political solution to Darfur has never been more urgent with the Sudan-wide elections scheduled for February 2010, and the challenge of ensuring meaningful representation of all Sudanese in the electoral process.
However, Ban regretted that the main parties “continue to choose violence over compromise and have demonstrated an overall lack of will or capacity to resolve this conflict alone.”
(ST)