Sudanese, Chadian presidents meet in Ethiopia over Darfur crisis

KHARTOUM, July 08, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, and Chadian President Idriss Deby, yesterday held talks on the situation in Darfur, at the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, the Sudanese radio reported.

The minister of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nagib al-Khair Abdelwahab, said in an interview with Radio Omdurman from Addis Ababa, that the two leaders discussed the situation in Darfur, joint action to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance and restoring law and order in western Sudan.

In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) the Chadian president said he never raised any criticisms against the Sudanese authorities. He only asked Al-Bashir to try and bring the Sudanese rogue elements under control and prevent them from raiding Chadian villages.

Deby indicated that more than 300 Chadians have been killed, with thousands of cattle taken away. “This is one of the indirect consequences of the rebellion, one of the indirect consequences of the Janjawid”.

“This also leads us to raise the issue of our own security. It is not a matter to be taken lightly. That is why we remain vigilant.” He concluded.

Fighting in neighbouring Sudan’s remote western Darfur area has uprooted more than one million people, with about 200,000 refugees camped across the border in Chad. The United Nations has called it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.