Chad and Sudan reopen border
April 14, 2010 (NDJAMENA) — In a sign of improvement of bilateral relations, Sudan and Chad have reopened this week the border between the two neighboring countries after years of tension and accusations.
“The border was opened Saturday and traffic is moving freely between the two countries,” Hassan Ibrahim, a local official in Adre, told AFP by telephone from the Chadian border town.”Sudanese taxis are going back and forth and so are the people,” he further said. Adre is located about 34 kilometers (21 miles) from El-Geneina in Darfur.
Today in Khartoum the Council for international people’s friendship, a government body to promote people’s diplomacy, announced today that a number of singers and musicians will travel to Ndjamena for one week where they will hold concerts.
Following the Darfur rebellion in 2003, the two countries gradually suspected each other of supporting their respective rebel groups. Khartoum had been the first of accusing Ndjamena of supporting the rebel Justice and Equality Movement led by Khalil Ibrahim.
The Chadian rebels who had wandered in Darfur region were organized and equipped by Khartoum government. They attacked the Chadian capital three times every time with a new leader and army.
In May 2008, JEM rebels attacked the Sudanese capital and the war between the two countries had been more than probable between the two countries despite the signed four reconciliation agreements in Triploi, Riyadh, Dakar and Doha.
However international pressures and internal imperative forced the two countries finally to compose in order to defuse tension and restore bilateral ties.
Following a visit by the presidential adviser to Ndjamena in October 2009, the two countries initiated a series of meetings and agreed to implement previous agreements particularly the joint border monitoring force which is now operating from El-Geneina, West Darfur.
The arrival of President Deby to Khartoum last February was seen as an additional confirmation of the seriousness of the two capitals to normalize the relations encouraged by international community and internal support from both sides.
Also, the improvement of relations had a quick and direct impact on the ongoing efforts to end the seven year-conflict in Darfur as JEM rebels signed a framework agreement with the Sudanese government in Doha on 23 February. Chad played a crucial role to finalize February deal and seeks to persuade JEM to conclude a ceasefire agreement soon.
In turn, the Chadian rebel groups are now subjected to huge pressures from the Sudanese government to return to Ndjamena and participate in November legislative elections, as Deby refused to hold peace talks offering only to allow them to exercise their political activities and participate in the legislative and presidential election which is expected to take place in April 2011.
(ST)