Abderaman Koulamallah, a prominent Chadian rebel leader, on Tuesday called on France to act as the "mediator" between the rebels and President Idriss Deby Itno in a bid to attain a "comprehensive solution" to the crisis currently afflicting Chad, local media reported.
"France, instead of being an old-fashioned policeman in Africa that is held prisoner by its despotic rulers, would certainly be playing a better role by acting as the mediator to foster a comprehensive solution capable of guaranteeing real democracy to the people of Chad," said Koulamallah in a statement issued in Libreville.
Koulamallah, who presides over the Union for Democratic Change (UDC), a member of the recently launched National Alliance (AN) led by Gen. Mahamat Nouri, said that President Deby "can neither be a friend nor an ally of France."
President Deby cannot play this role while, "at the same time," he is "intensifying repression" and "refusing to recognize his glaring failures to offer leadership to the Chadian people," said the rebel leader.
France must also "persuade" President Deby "not to attack our forces (in the east) and trigger a new military conflict" which he has "neither the will, nor the human resources to wage," said Koulamallah.
In his statement, the rebel said that "all forces" of the rebellion were stationed in eastern Chad and that "the Chadian army was currently moving its troops from in the sector of Ade and Moudeina."
"The government forces are now arriving in the region, but we are in control of the border," said Koulamallah, noting that rebel forces were located in "inaccessible mountainous areas."
Regarding announcement attributed to the government that rebel forces were defecting to its side, Koulamallah described the whole story as "laughable."
"There have been a few defections that were motivated by personal interests, but I can tell you they are very significant on our side at the moment," he said, adding that "defections" between the two camps was a normal occurrence.
In early February, the Chadian rebels, after forming a formidable alliance, had managed to move across Chad and reach N'Djamena where they failed to overthrow President Deby even after surrounding the presidential palace.
Source:Xinhua
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