Sudan welcomes Chad mediation
2004-02-03 12:15
Khartoum - The Sudanese government has welcomed Chadian President Idriss Deby's decision to renew mediatian for a peaceful settlement between Khartoum and rebels in western Sudan, a newspaper said on Tuesday.
North Darfur Governor Osman Yousuf Kibir was quoted by independent Akhbar Al Youm daily as saying he was notified of the new mediation bid by his Chadian counterpart, the governor of Chad's eastern Wadi Ferra State, at a meeting in the border town of Tine last Saturday.
The details of the mediation would be declared by Deby himself "in due course", said Kibir.
Kibir said Sudan had "great confidence" in Deby "due to his knowledge of the conditions in Darfur and his influence on the problem."
Kibir said he discussed with the Wadi Ferra governor the conditions of the 100 000 refugees who crossed the border into Chad fleeing the fighting in Darfur.
He added that Tine Commissioner Colonel Ahmed Mussa Nimir would pay a visit to Chad in the near future for "further coordination."
Army in control
The North Darfur governor asserted that the army had full control of the security situation while the rebels "are experiencing full collapse and their remaining elements are fleeing pursuit by the government troops in disarray."
Regarding the relief situation, Kibir said 28 trucks carrying 840 tons of food, medicines and blankets arrived in Kutum on Monday.
Another relief truck convoy is due to arrive in the next couple of days in Tine and Um Beru where he said a committee to supervise the distribution of the aid has been set up, he said.
Deby said in Ndjamena on Friday that his government would make another attempt to bring peace to Darfur.
Rebels in Darfur launched a rebellion to protest against alleged government neglect of the semi-desert region in the west of the country. Clashes have intensified since peace talks in Chad collapsed on December 16, and so far the rebellion has cost about 3 000 lives.
The violence has also forced about 100 000 people to flee into the east of Chad. Some 670 000 have been displaced within Sudan itself.
Sudanese forces last week regained control of the Sudanese half of Tine from rebels, backed up by an air raid Thursday which killed several civilians, sources close to the Chadian army said.