Sudan to lead a joint Chadian-Sudanese border force – agreement

February 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and Chad have signed today an additional military protocol where the two neighbors agreed that Sudanese army will lead the joint command of a border monitoring force during the first six months.

A Chadian military delegation arrived in an unannounced visit to Khartoum since two days ago to discuss the military details related to deployment of joint patrols throughout the border.

The two countries agreed last December during a visit by the Chadian foreign minister Moussa Faki to set up a joint technical committee to implement agreements signed between the two neighbors.

Sudan will lead the joint forces of the two countries for the first six months, says the first disposition of the signed agreement which provides that El-Geneina will be the seat of the command of the troops.

The deal also stipulated that a plan to deploy the joint forces should be prepared before February 25, indicating that military experts will meet on February 8 to adopt legal framework and the military team that will organize the work of the joint force.

According to today’s agreement the joint force can seek assistance of the host country if needed.

The military Chadian delegation headed by secretary of state for defence Mahamat Beshir Okoromi met Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir before to leave the country today.

The Chadian President Idriss Deby announced this week he would visit Sudan on next Monday ending five years of tension and accusations between the two former allies.

Regional and international communities hailed the rapprochement which is seen as crucial to end the seven year conflict in Darfur. Chad has pledged to exert the necessary efforts in this regard.

Also Sudan should push the opposition groups to join the government of President Deby who is accused of establishing a dictatorship in his country.

(ST)