2010-02-08
Deby says his visit to Sudan aims to show his country’s commitment to see peace restored between two nations.
By Guillaume Lavallee - KHARTOUM
Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno paid a landmark visit on Monday to Khartoum, in a bid to consolidate a thaw in ties and boost efforts to bring peace to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir greeted Deby at Khartoum airport at the start of a visit expected to help seal last month's accord normalizing ties between the neighboring states, a move essential to future peace in Darfur.
"We have come here like a dove... we came to show our will, our availability, our commitment to see peace, tranquility and confidence return" between the two countries, Deby said at the start of talks.
"We came and wish to leave with peace," he said on his first trip to Sudan since July 2004 when he visited El-Geneina, the strategic capital of West Darfur which borders Chad.
Chad has long accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust its government, while Khartoum has in turn charged Ndjamena with backing ethnic minority rebels in western Darfur.
But the two states also agreed in mid-January to deploy a joint force on their border, in a move aimed at ending the presence of rebels on each other's territory and halting their activity, as part of efforts towards normalization.
"We are committed to implementing all the agreements signed between our two countries," Beshir said.
"We want to return to better relations," he added, underlining the importance of the deployment of the joint border force which will have a "strong impact" on security along the frontier and for the people of Darfur.
Last month's deal also provides for the deployment of 3,000 troops along the border, with each country contributing a 1,500-strong contingent.
Chad and Sudan had in the past signed similar agreements, but those accords were never implemented.
In March 2008, the two states signed the Dakar agreement in the Senegalese capital, but it crumbled months later when Darfur rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement launched an unprecedented assault on the Sudanese capital.
This was followed by a surprise rebel attack on Ndjamena which came close to overthrowing Deby before government forces managed to rally and rout the insurgents.
"This time it seems serious. They both need it right now," a diplomat said last month on condition of anonymity on normalization of relations between the two states.
"Chad is heading towards legislative elections in November and presidential elections in April 2011, while elections in Sudan are scheduled for April and a referendum (on southern independence) in January 2011," the diplomat said.
Improved ties between Khartoum and Ndjamena are also seen as a major step towards securing peace in Darfur.
Sudanese foreign minister Deng Alor expressed the hope Deby's visit would contribute to progress in indirect talks under way in the Qatari capital, Doha, between the Khartoum government and Darfur rebels.
"This visit is going definitely to have a positive impact on the Doha talks," he said.
Beshir praised Deby's "positive efforts" in supporting the Doha peace process which aims to end the conflict in Darfur where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have died since ethnic rebels revolted in 2003.
Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.
Source: Middle East Online.
Link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=37109.
Deby says his visit to Sudan aims to show his country’s commitment to see peace restored between two nations.
By Guillaume Lavallee - KHARTOUM
Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno paid a landmark visit on Monday to Khartoum, in a bid to consolidate a thaw in ties and boost efforts to bring peace to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir greeted Deby at Khartoum airport at the start of a visit expected to help seal last month's accord normalizing ties between the neighboring states, a move essential to future peace in Darfur.
"We have come here like a dove... we came to show our will, our availability, our commitment to see peace, tranquility and confidence return" between the two countries, Deby said at the start of talks.
"We came and wish to leave with peace," he said on his first trip to Sudan since July 2004 when he visited El-Geneina, the strategic capital of West Darfur which borders Chad.
Chad has long accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust its government, while Khartoum has in turn charged Ndjamena with backing ethnic minority rebels in western Darfur.
But the two states also agreed in mid-January to deploy a joint force on their border, in a move aimed at ending the presence of rebels on each other's territory and halting their activity, as part of efforts towards normalization.
"We are committed to implementing all the agreements signed between our two countries," Beshir said.
"We want to return to better relations," he added, underlining the importance of the deployment of the joint border force which will have a "strong impact" on security along the frontier and for the people of Darfur.
Last month's deal also provides for the deployment of 3,000 troops along the border, with each country contributing a 1,500-strong contingent.
Chad and Sudan had in the past signed similar agreements, but those accords were never implemented.
In March 2008, the two states signed the Dakar agreement in the Senegalese capital, but it crumbled months later when Darfur rebel group the Justice and Equality Movement launched an unprecedented assault on the Sudanese capital.
This was followed by a surprise rebel attack on Ndjamena which came close to overthrowing Deby before government forces managed to rally and rout the insurgents.
"This time it seems serious. They both need it right now," a diplomat said last month on condition of anonymity on normalization of relations between the two states.
"Chad is heading towards legislative elections in November and presidential elections in April 2011, while elections in Sudan are scheduled for April and a referendum (on southern independence) in January 2011," the diplomat said.
Improved ties between Khartoum and Ndjamena are also seen as a major step towards securing peace in Darfur.
Sudanese foreign minister Deng Alor expressed the hope Deby's visit would contribute to progress in indirect talks under way in the Qatari capital, Doha, between the Khartoum government and Darfur rebels.
"This visit is going definitely to have a positive impact on the Doha talks," he said.
Beshir praised Deby's "positive efforts" in supporting the Doha peace process which aims to end the conflict in Darfur where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have died since ethnic rebels revolted in 2003.
Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.
Source: Middle East Online.
Link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=37109.
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