Chad to get Arab League observer status

CAIRO, April 28 (AFP) — The Arab League said Thursday it had offered Chad observer status in the 22-member body.

“It has been agreed that the Arab League and Chad will sign a memorandum of understanding as soon as possible,” said Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa.

The signing will herald the “granting to Chad of an observer status at the Arab League,” added Mussa at a news conference in Cairo with Chadian Foreign Minister Nagoum Yamassoum.

Neither Mussa nor Yamassoum said if Chad eventually wanted to become a fullly fledged member of the Arab League.

Arabic is widely used in the central African country, and nearly half of its population of about 10 million are Muslims.

Chad, more than three times the size of California, shares borders with six African countries. Two of them — Libya and Sudan — are Arab League members.