JEM says not concerned by Sudan-Chad normalization

January 11, 2010 (LONDON) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has welcomed today the normalization process engaged between Sudan and Chad, saying it was not concerned by this development.

Local Sudanese pres published reports saying Chad following the normalization process had expelled the rebel group from its territory. The two countries are discussing now ways to deploy observers throughout the joint border.

“We are not concerned by the ongoing discussions between Khartoum and Ndjamena and our troops are in Darfur not in Chad,” said JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam. Darfur conflict is a political one and its causes have nothing with Chad he stressed.

He accused Sudanese government of supporting the Chadian opposition saying only Khartoum is concerned by the measures imposed by Dakar Agreement on normalization between the two countries.

“Sudanese government has to remove the Chadian rebels from Al Sayah (in north Darfur) because they are committing crimes against our people there,” he said.

Ahmed further said that JEM has good relations with Chad like other countries in the region and they visit it as such.

The rebel official reaffirmed JEM commitment to reach a just and comprehensive peace agreement adding Khartoum has to postpone April election if it is serious in this regard.

(ST)