More Chadian rebels return to Ndjamena from Darfur

October 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – A new group of Chadian rebels left Darfur region yesterday to Chad in implementation of security arrangements ending proxy war between the two countries.

The sixth batch composed of 60 rebels flied to Ndjamena from El-Fasher the capital of North Darfur on Wednesday evening. Also, the seventh group, according to the official SUNA should leave on Thursday.

Sudan and Chad agreed last January to end proxy war and to stop their support to the rebel groups. They also decided to form joint units to patrol the border between the two countries to prevent the rebels from both sides to cross the boundary.

Last July during a visit to Ndjamena, President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir pledged to not allow Chadian rebels to operate from inside Sudan. At the time the leaders of the Chadian rebellion were already evacuated to Doha while others escaped to outside the country and their fighters wander in the troubled region of Darfur.

Chadian Opposition sources allege that some of the rebels led by Abdel Wahid Aboud have accepted to work with the Sudanese army and are deployed in Abyei. In addition, it was claimed that others elements who refused to be disarmed have moved to southern Sudan through South Darfur state.

Also sources from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said Sudan has moved some Chadian rebel fighters to eastern Sudan. The Darfur rebel sources further said that President Idriss Deby, is infuriated by the move considering it as a flagrant violation of the signed agreement.

The Chadian counsel in El-Fasher, Mohamed Taher Tarjouk expressed his appreciation to the Sudanese efforts to “help those (rebel) factions to return voluntarily to Chad”. He further reminded that the policy of president Deby is to “open the door for all citizens within the framework of voluntary repatriation”.

Tarjouk further praised relations with the Sudan saying it witnessed good amelioration particularly after Bashir’s visit to Chad.

(ST)