Sudan, Chad agree to bar rebel groups, normalize relations

GIC

Feb 11, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan and Chad have signed a peace agreement to end increasing tension, pledging to deny refuge to each other’s rebel groups and to normalize diplomatic relations.

The agreement, signed late Wednesday, was reached after a day of talks hosted by Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. The leaders of Burkino Faso, Congo and the Central African Republic also attended the talks.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Deby, pledged “to normalize diplomatic relations and to immediately commit themselves to work to prevent the presence of rebels on each other territory,” Libya’s Jamhiriya news agency reported.

The final communiqué issued by the six leaders called on both Sudan and Chad to immediately end media campaigns, not to intervene in each other’s internal affairs, stop supporting the rebels from both sides and not use their territories to back destructive activity against the safety and sovereignty of one another.

The communiqué said an African ministerial committee presided over by Libya would oversee the implementation of the agreement.

“The Tripoli peace agreement will enable the two countries to restore their good relations after they were about to go into the wrong path,” Deby said. “There will be no development without achieving peace and stability.”

Tensions between the two nations have grown amid the continuing bloodshed in Sudan’s western Darfur region, which borders Chad.

Sudan accuses Chad of harboring Darfur rebels, while Chad says Sudan backs two Chadian rebel groups made up of army deserters who seek to overthrow Deby.

The deal also called for the establishment of an African force to preserve security on the borders. The number of countries involved or how to finance the force was not determined.

“We will commit ourselves to the agreement because we are seriously endeavoring to exert sincere efforts which will be practically reflected in improving good neighborly relations,” al-Bashir told the meeting.

Gadhafi told the leaders that,” It is shameful that Africa resorts to weapons whenever there is a dispute. Unfortunately, we turn all our differences into wars, which gives an opportunity for foreign interference.”.

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Posted by farajat on Feb 11 2007 Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry