UNAMID calls on Sudan and Chad to resolve differences peacefully
July 17, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The head of Darfur peacekeeping mission has urged the governments of Sudan and Chad to stop military escalation and to resolve their differences peacefully.
Yesterday Sudanese army said Chadian warplanes bombed a village, Um Dukhun, situated near the joint border in Western Darfur state. Lt. General Abdel-Gadir Mohamed Nasr, Chairman of the Staff of the Sudan Armed Forces warned that they were ready to crush Chadian forces and awaiting instructions.
Also, the rebel Union of Forces of Resistance accused the Chadian air force of attacking two villages in the southeastern Chadian region of Tissi near the Sudanese border on Thursday morning. The UFR rebels said many civilians were killed during the attack.
“We are deeply concerned at such reports which are being investigated by UNAMID and I once again urge all parties to refrain from such escalation,” said Mr. Rodolphe Adada the African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative.
Adada further said that dialogue is the only way to ease the current tension between the two neighboring countries.
“I encourage you to desist from conflict even as diplomatic efforts are being undertaken to bring an end to the ongoing tensions which could exacerbate conditions for Darfur’s civilians.”
Responding to Qatari efforts to end their differences, Sudan and Chad presidents said willing to meet in Libya. However the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs Ahmed Bin-Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, said no date had been determined for this summit.
Darfur mediation and international community believe that the current situation between the two countries complicates the resolution of Darfur conflict and would endanger regional stability.
“The ongoing tension continues to be one of the major obstacles to the peace and security of Darfur,” said the joint representative, adding “Good relations between Chad and Sudan are a key to ensuring lasting peace in the area.”
The UNAMID, which reached only 69% of the total military deployment, has no troops in Um Dukhun area.
(ST)