Just two months after the signing of a peace accord, Sudan and Chad have once again broken off relations after Darfur rebels attacked the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
Sudan holds Chad responsible for the raid and has arrested the Islamist opposition leader. In the meantime Darfur rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim has vowed more attacks on Khartoum until the government falls.
With tensions between Sudan and Chad escalating, pulling the rebels back into the political process to solve the Darfur issue is a more urgent task than ever, analysts say.
Nevertheless, the crisis between Sudan and Chad is a difficult problem that cannot be solved in a short period.
NEW ROUND OF TENSIONS
On Saturday, a group of militants of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) infiltrated the Omdurman Area in northwestern Khartoum and clashed with Sudanese Armed Forces and police.
The Sudanese government said the army and the police had crushed the rebels' attempt to penetrate the capital, killing and capturing a number of the attackers.
This was the first time that rebels in Darfur have entered Khartoum to launch attacks since the bloody conflict erupted in the western Sudanese region neighboring Chad in February 2003.
The Sudanese government has repeatedly accused N'Djamena of supporting and providing assistance to the rebel movements in Darfur, but the Chadian government has denied the accusation.
EXCHANGE BARBS
After the rebel raids, Sudan accused Chad of backing the rebels and has cut diplomatic relations but Chad has denied involvement.
"Sudan holds Chad responsible for what had happened and reserves the right to respond," Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir said in an address to the Sudanese nation after announcing the decision to sever diplomatic ties with Chad.
But the Chadian government denied the accusation that N'Djamenaw as involved in Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels' attack on Khartoum.
"Chad has nothing to do with this adventure," Chadian Information Minister Muhammad Hissein said.
On the other side, Darfur rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim said Monday he would launch more attacks on Sudan's capital Khartoum until the government fell.
"This is just the start of a process and the end is the termination of this regime," said Ibrahim, whose JEM attacked Khartoum at the weekend. "Don't expect just one more attack."
Sudan Monday arrested Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and pressed its pursuit of Darfur rebels who threatened again to attack the capital as sporadic gunfire rang out across Khartoum.
RECENT CHAD-SUDAN TENSIONS
On April 9, 2004, Chad brokered a ceasefire between the Sudanese government and two Darfur rebel groups.
On April 11, 2005, Chad suspended mediation, accusing Sudan of supporting Chadian rebels.
On Feb 8, 2006, Chad and Sudan agreed to put an end to their dispute at a meeting in Libya.
On April 13, 2006, Chad government forces fought off attack by rebels on the capital N'Djamena. Several hundred people were killed. Deby broke diplomatic relations with Sudan the next day.
On Aug 8, 2006, Chadian President Idriss Deby and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir agreed to restore ties.
On Feb 22, 2007, at a conference in Libya, leaders of Sudan and Chad pledge to redouble efforts to end border violence.
On May 3, 2007, Sudan and Chad signed a Saudi-brokered reconciliation deal in Riyadh.
On March 13, 2008, Deby and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Beshir signed a peace agreement in Dakar -- the sixth such accord between the countries in five years.
On March 22, 2008, Chad and Sudan accused each other of breaking the new peace pact.
On May 10, 2008, Sudan accused the Chadian army of attacking a border area inside Sudan to support an infiltration and sabotage attempt by Darfur rebels in Khartoum and other major cities. This is denied by N'Djamena.
On May 11, 2008, Sudan severed diplomatic relations with Chad.
INTERNATIONAL REACTION
Although having thus far vehemently criticized the Sudanese government over what has happened in Darfur, the international society, which includes the United Nations, United States, France and Britain, denounced Saturday's attack by JEM rebels on Khartoum.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Saturday strongly condemned the attacks, expressing "grave concern at the outbreak of fighting on the outskirts of Khartoum as a result of the reported attacks by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces against the capital."
"He condemns strongly the use of armed force and military means by JEM for the achievement of political ends, and calls for an immediate cessation of fighting and a renewed commitment to a peaceful resolution of outstanding issues," said a statement issued by his press office.
The UN chief also expressed his "anxiety at the effect they (the attacks) would have on the overall situation in Sudan, as well as on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Darfur Agreement, and at the possible effect on civilian lives and property of any escalation of such attack," it added.
France also condemned the attack and called for faster deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Sudan's huge western region, the foreign ministry said Sunday.
"France calls for an acceleration in the deployment of UNAMID, a resumption of political dialogue and the application of accords contributing to the easing of tensions in the region."
Source:Xinhua
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