N’DJAMENA, 17 April 2005 — Chad said yesterday it would resume mediation in the Darfur war after receiving promises from Sudan that it would act against Chadian rebels said by N’Djamena to be based on its neighbor’s territory. Last week, Chad accused Sudan of seriously threatening its security by recruiting and supplying some 3,000 rebels close to the border between the two countries.
The allegation strained relations already weakened because of the war in Darfur. Chad, Africa’s newest oil producer, withdrew as a mediator in the Darfur conflict a few days later. A statement from the office of Chadian President Idriss Deby said the decision to resume mediation came after talks on Friday with a Sudanese delegation, led by the minister of investment.
“Concerned to preserve good relations between Chad and Sudan, President Idriss Deby accepts the resumption of mediation, while insisting that the Sudanese government carries out the dismantling (of the rebellion) to the end,” the statement said. “The Sudanese minister gave assurances to (Deby) on the start of operations to dismantle the armed forces hostile to Chad and present on Sudanese territory,” it said.
