Sudan condemns rebels attack on relief convoy, still mute on incursion against Chadian army
KHARTOUM, April 30, 2004 (Sudan tribune) — The secretary-general of the ruling National Congress, Ibrahim Ahmad Omar, has described the attack carried out by the Darfur rebels on a relief convoy as a breach of the cease fire signed in Ndjamena, the Official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported this morning.
In a statement to SUNA , he said this was an attack against innocent citizens.
Asked on whether there were foreign parties trying to torpedo the truce agreement, he said he did not know. He further said: “We hope all foreign and domestic parties will cooperate in enforcing the cease-fire and restoring peace and stability in Darfur.”
Sudanese media didn’t make any mention to the attack carried out by Sudanese army on the Chadian army position yesterday.
The Chadian security minister Abderahman Moussa, said to Associated Press yesterday “Sudanese troops crossed into Chad and skirmished with Chadian troops near a refugee camp”. There were no injuries reported in the brief confrontation Wednesday near the border town of Koulbous, 950 kilometers (590 miles) west of N’djamena.
With regard to what had been recently reported on SPLM leader John Garang’s mediation to solve the conflict, Omar said he did not know about it. However, he added, he welcomed any Sudanese efforts to achieve peace.
Chadian authorities condemned the Sudanese incursion.
Allami Ahmat, diplomatic adviser to Chadian President Idriss Deby and a member of the Chadian mediation team said to Agence France Press “This situation is all the more unacceptable because the Sudanese army tolerates and offers land and air backup to the Janjawid militias,”.
The Chadian official accused the militias of attacking the refugees camps in the Chadian border.
“We can confirm that the Janjawid militia is still very active and has not been disarmed,” said Ahmat, backing accusations by Darfur rebels that Khartoum had breached an accord signed on April 8 in the Chadian capital.