Fourth batch of Chadian rebels leave Darfur to Ndjamena
October 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The fourth batch of Chadian rebels left Darfur heading to Chad from El-Fasher the capital of North Darfur state, a Sudanese government sponsored news service reported.
The Sudanese Media Center said on Sunday that some 171 elements from a rebel umbrella called the Union of Resistance Forces (URF) accepted voluntarily to return home. “The operation is encouraged and supported by the Chadian and Sudanese governments,” said the media outlet.
URF rebels said on October 4 they were discussing presence of their fighters with the Sudanese authorities as Khartoum normalized its relations with Ndjamena and they pose a problem for Sudan.
The two neighbour countries agreed to stop supporting armed rebel groups from both sides ending a five years of proxy war. A joint force is now deployed along the border between the two countries to prevent rebels’ circulation.
Hafiz Mohamed Omer, Minister of Culture and Information in North Darfur, said with departure of this group his state is now free from rebel presence, adding the remaining few number of rebels will leave the region within two days (Tuesday).
He further stressed that this operation is undertaken by North Darfur state with the participation of officials from the Chadian government and army.
Chadian rebel sources say President Idriss Deby urged Sudan to return all the armed opposition elements before the 16th of October. Ndjamena will hold legislative elections next November.
(ST)