AU condemns rebel attacks on Sudanese refugee camps in Chad

The African Union (AU) on Thursday strongly condemned Monday's attacks by Chadian rebels against Sudanese refugee camps in Chad.

In a statement issued from the AU headquarters, AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare called on the rebels to "withdraw from the outskirts of the Koukou Angarana and Goz Amir camps and move away from all locations where there are refugee camps along the Sudan/Chad and Chad/Central African Republic borders."

Konare said he believed that such incursions within the refugee camps "constitutes a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian right and seriously undermine the activities of humanitarian workers in the field."

He reiterated once again that in conformity with the 2000 Lome Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, the AU rejected "any attempt or maneuver aimed at seizing power by force. "

Meanwhile, the AU chief understood the urgent need for the Chadian political players to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomatic means.

On Monday, Chadian rebels attacked Sudanese refugee camps in Chad, home to some 17,000 people from neighboring Sudan, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The rebels exchanged fire with security officers protecting the camps, said UNHCR officials, adding that the rebels entered the camps when food was being distributed.

At present, security in Chad is deteriorating ahead of presidential elections scheduled for next month. The rebels are marching towards the capital N'Djamena and have battled with government forces. President Idriss Deby Thursday declared that he had fought off the attempt to overthrow him and the situation in the capital was under control.

Source: Xinhua