Sudan Chad Border War Is Heating Up (Again)

Sudan said two Chadian aircraft bombed the Umm Dukhun area of West Darfur state.
Photo AFP

Sudan-Chad Border Conflict Raises Fear Of Wider Hostilities -- Guardian (Nigeria)

KHARTOUM yesterday said it was committed to peace with neighbouring N'Djamena after accusing it of bombing its western Darfur region last week, but also warned it would not be held back if threatened.

Reports of fresh conflict in the border region raised fears of wider hostilities between the neighbours, but State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Al-Samani al-Wasila, said Khartoum remained committed "to all the agreements that it has signed with Chad."

Read more ....

More News On The Border Dispute Between Sudan And Chad

Sudan tells Chad ready for peace or war after raid -- AFP
Sudan refers Chad to U.N. over air raid accusation -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Sudan files UN complaint over Chad 'air raid' -- AFP
Sudan says France behind Chad’s air raids -- Sudan Tribune
Chad: UN's Ban Condemns Bombings Along Chadian-Sudanese Border -- AllAfrica.com

Sudan Accuses Chad Of Darfur Air Raids

A Chadian soldier watches people march in Ndjamena in May 2009. Sudan accused Chad on Thursday of launching air raids on its western region of Darfur, an area believed to be the base of Chadian opposition rebels, state media reported. (AFP/File/Georges Gobet)

From Yahoo News/AFP:

KHARTOUM (AFP) – Sudan accused Chad on Thursday of launching air raids on its western region of Darfur, an area believed to be the base of Chadian opposition rebels, state media reported.

The Sudan Media Center website, which is considered close to the intelligence services, reported that two Chadian planes had raided the Umm Dukhun area of Western Darfur on Thursday.

The website, quoting senior military officials, said there were no causalities but that the Sudanese army was on "standby" and waiting for "the green light for retaliation".

The report was not possible to verify independently.

Read more ....

Update: Chad launches air raid on Sudan: state media -- Washington Post/Reuters

My Comment: Both sides have been fighting for years .... this air strike (if true) is just another blip in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands, and dispersed as refugees millions of others.

Sudan, Chad Trade Accusations Of Aiding Rebels

From Yahoo News/Reuters:

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Sudan and its neighbor Chad accused each other on Friday of aiding rebels determined to topple their respective governments as fears grew that a new peace deal signed by Khartoum and N'Djamena could collapse.

The two countries signed an agreement in Doha this week in which they agreed to normalize relations and reject any support for rebel groups hostile to either of them. Days later they accused each other of breaking their word as fighting between government forces and rebels in eastern Chad intensified.

Read more ....

My Comment: With the men who caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions displaced still in power .... trust and confidence would obviously be absent. Worse, any small infraction would only exacerbate the poisonous atmosphere that already exists. The only hope for peace in the region is when the men who caused are punished for it .... but I doubt that this is going to happen.

Chad Accuses Sudan Of Launching An Invasion

Sudan Denies Launching Offensive Against Chad -- Yahoo News/AFP

KHARTOUM (AFP) – Sudan denied accusations by the government of Chad on Tuesday that its forces had launched an attack against the neighbouring African state.

"What is happening now inside Chad is between the Chadian army and the Chadian rebels. Sudan has no relation with this," Sudanese army spokesman Osman al-Agbash told AFP.

Read more ....

More News On Sudan - Chad Relations

Sudan 'launches attack on Chad' -- BBC
Chad accuses Sudan of armed assault -- Al Jazeera
UPDATE: Sudan Denies Launching Offensive Against Chad -- Easy Bourse
Chad accuses Sudan of 'planned aggression' -- Middle East Online
Chad Accuses Sudan Of Launching Military Assault -- Nasdaq
Chad-Sudan troop buildup causes concern -- Middle East Times

New Tensions Between Sudan And Chad After Khartoum Attack

From Yahoo News:

LIBREVILLE (AFP) - Just two months after their latest attempt at a peace accord, Sudan and neighbouring Chad have once again broken off relations after an attack by Darfur rebels close to the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Sudan's President Omar el-Beshir, often accused by Chad's head of state Idriss Deby Itno of trying to overthrow him, took action to sever diplomatic ties, accusing Chad of backing a Darfur rebel assault on Khartoum.

His government said it had repulsed the assault by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), allegedly backed by Chad, which saw the insurgents reach Khartoum's outskirts with the declared intent of toppling the regime.

Read more ....

Update: Sudan Cuts Ties With Chad After Rebel Attack -- Reuters

Update #2: Sudan Cuts Ties With Chad After Dafur Rebels Reach Khartoum -- Times Online

Update #3: Sudan blames Chad for attack on capital -- Telegraph

Update #4: Sudan Arrests Opposition Leader, Pursues Rebels -- Yahoo News

Update #5: Rebel Raid Prompts Sudan To Break Off Chad Relations -- Independent

Update #6: Islamist Leader Is Arrested In Sudan -- International Herald Tribune

Update #7: Darfur Rebel Leader Vows More Attacks On Khartoum -- Reuters

My Comment: After spending a number of years supporting attacks against Chad, Sudan is now getting a taste of its own medicine. Expect more attacks and violence to now occur.