Chad’s president visits Sudan , holds talks with Bashir
September 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Chad’s President Idriss Deby arrived to Khartoum on Tuesday to take part in the celebrations to mark the completion of Darfur peace agreement signed five year ago in Doha.
The Chadian president and head of the African Union was received at Khartoum Airport President Omer al-Bashir.
“Deby’s visit confirms the strong bilateral relations between the two country, especially that the president Chadian remained a strong supporter of the peace process in Darfur,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal al-Din Ismail, told reporters at the airport following after his arrival.
Ismail added that Deby will participate in the celebrations that will take place in the capital of North Darfur State, El Fasher with other guests, and praised his role to achieve peace in Darfur and the efforts he conducts as president of the African Union in this respect.
Deby has played a key role to convince armed groups to join the Doha peace process and the current African Union brokered talks. He believes the continuation of the armed conflict in the western Sudan region impacts negatively the political stability in his country and hurts economic or business relationships with Sudan.
The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) was signed on 14th July 2011 between the government and the Liberation and Justice (LJM). Also, a splinter faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Mohamed Bashar and Bakheit Dabajo after his death joined the framework agreement on 6 April 2013.
Initially the celebration had been scheduled to take place on July 20th, however it was abruptly postponed without giving reasons.
Presidents al-Bashir and Deby held bilateral talks on Tuesday before to leave to El Fasher.
On his part, North Darfur State Governor, Abdel-Wahid Youssef, pointed that El-Fasher will also host a summit between Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic.
“The visit is clear indication for the peace and security in the region,” said Youssef stressing that El-Fasher is ready for the celebrations.
He pointed that El-Faher will honour the Chadian President and Emir of Qatar for their role in achieving peace in Darfur.
In June Sudanese government, announced the official dissolution of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and Darfur Peace Office, indicating that the implementation of peace agreement in Darfur region.
The DRA was established in line with the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), which was signed in July 2011, by the Government of Sudan and former rebel Liberation, and Justice Movement, and the Justice and Equality Movement-Dabajo in April 2013.
The authority had a four-year mandate to implement the framework peace document. However, the DRA term was extended up to July 2016, by a presidential decree in 2015.
(ST)