AFRICA/CHAD - “It is time for weapons to be silent and negotiations to prevail”

N’Djamena (Agenzia Fides)- “It is time for weapons to be silent and negotiations to prevail” say Fides sources in Chad commenting the decision of the rebel troops which had besieged the capital N’Djamena, to accept on principle, and immediate cease fire.
“Aware of how the people are suffering and that sister countries Libya and Burkina Faso have signed initiatives of peace, national resistance forces have agreed to an immediate cease fire”, said rebel spokesman Abderaman Kulamallah. “Now we are ready to start dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict”, he said. “We want to stop the war and start dialogue to establish a truly democratic government”.
“The situation in town appears to be calmer, the army is patrolling the streets and there are no clashes” the sources told Fides. “On the diplomatic level the UN security council resolution calling on member countries to intervene to support the Chad government, strengthened President Deby. The rebels have no international recognition and appear to be in a situation of checkmate. The mediation to reach a solution entrusted to Libya, a non permanent member of the UN security council, could resume ” the sources told Fides. “However the situation is not clear, since this is not only a domestic crisis between the President and his opponents, some of who are relations or former collaborators. The whole region from Sudan to Chad to Central African and Niger is involved: this area has become strategic because of it reserves of oil and uranium which attract many countries”.
The alliance of three rebel groups which attacked N’Djamena is formed of Union des Forces pour la Démocratie et le Développement (UFDD), led by general Mahamat Nouri, the Rassemblement des Forces pour le Changement (RFC) led by Timane Erdimi and the UFDD-Fondamentale, led by Abdelwahid Aboud Makaye. Only in January this year, with some difficulty, these groups succeeded in creating a unified commando but they still have no common goal, except to overthrow Deby.
The Chad government accuses Sudan of helping the rebels, Khartoum's reply was to accuse Chad of helping rebels in Darfur. International mediation must keep this aspect in mind if it is to reach a solution to guarantee stability in the area.
At the humanitarian level the UN High Commission for UNHCR estimates that over the past few days between 15,000 and 20,000 citizens of Chad have fled for safety to Cameroon.
“We have no news of damage to Church property or personnel, although communications are difficult and this creates concern” our sources conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/2/2008 righe 36 parole 500)