'Rebels shouldn't be supported'
16/02/2007 13:45  - (SA)  

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Cannes - Heads of state from volatile neighbours Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic agreed on Thursday not to "support any rebellion" in each other's countries, Sudan's foreign minister said.

"Each country will respect the sovereignty of the other countries and no country will support any rebellion within its territory," Sudanese foreign minister Lam Akol told reporters at the France-Africa summit.

Relations between Sudan and its two central African neighbours have deteriorated since fighting in Sudan's western Darfur region that started in 2003 spilled over into eastern Chad and northeastern Central African Republic (CAR).

The agreement was signed by the three and six other heads of state at the summit.

French presidential spokesperson, Jerome Bonnafont said that the three countries had agreed on three principles: respecting the sovereignty of each other's countries; increased co-operation between the three states, and working with the UN and the AU.

Rebel attacks

Rebels in northern Chad have been fighting to topple President Idriss Deby Itno, while in CAR, a loose coalition of rebels has been fighting since October to oust President General Francois Bozize.

Chad and the CAR have jointly accused Sudan of backing the rebels in their countries, but Khartoum has denied the accusations and instead accused the two nations of supporting rebels in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

France has provided support to both Chad and CAR in tackling the rebel attacks.

In Darfur, at least 200 000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced by nearly four years of fighting between ethnic African rebels and Janjaweed militia allied to the Arab-led government in Khartoum.

Thursday's mini-summit brought together Sudanese President Omar el-Beshir, Chad's Deby and the CAR's Bozize.

Also present were Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Ghanaian President John Kufuor, African Union chairman.

Andrew Natsios, Washington's special envoy to Darfur, said last month that a "quiet war" was underway between Chad and Sudan, fuelled by instability in Darfur.

The France-Africa summit is taking place in Cannes, on the south coast of France, from Wednesday to Friday.

- AFP

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