Chad accuses Sudan of harboring, arming opposition

NDJAMENA, Mar 24, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — According to reliable sources, the Chadian president, Idris Déby, accused Sudan of harboring and arming the Chadian opposition in western Sudan to destabilize his regime.

This came during the meeting in the Chadian capital N’djamena between him and the Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Taha on Friday March 18, 2005.

Sources said Deby specified the “Alliance Nationale de la Résistance” (ANR), an umbrella of armed Chadian political forces, and mentioned the name of Mohamat Sileck the leader of the ANR and his military commander Mohamat Nour.

In the same meeting Taha, accused Déby of arming Darfur rebels groups. He indicated that all the rebels’ arms, logistics and munitions are form the Chadian army, and he can’t understand that Déby was not aware of this fact as he pretends.

Sudanese security services submitted since last year reports alleging that Déby is personally involved in the supplying of Darfur rebels. The purpose of N’djamena is to secure eastern border and prevent Chadian opposition from carrying out any miliarty action starting form the western Sudan.

If so, relations between the two countries may deteriorate soon and military confrontation between the two countries could not be excluded.

Chadian president is very ill and came to Paris this week to make some medical examines.

Sources said the Chadian opposition is well trained and ready to engage military operations. The ANR represents a real threat to Déby because some Chadian army elements are favourable to the armed opposition.

In December 1990, with Libyan assistance and no opposition from French troops stationed in Chad, Déby’s forces successfully marched on N’Djamena from his basis in Sudan’s Darfur.