Ex-rebel returns home after peace deal with government

The exiled leader of the armed opposition group, the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) returned to Chad on Monday after signing a reconciliation accord with the government, Chad's communication minister, Moussa Dago, told IRIN on Tuesday. Moussa Medella signed the agreement with the government in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, at the weekend. Following the signing of the accord, Dago said, there will be an amnesty and a general disarmament of MDD fighters as well as a reintegration of MDD military and civilian personnel into the army and administration. In return the MDD has agreed to end its rebellion and work with the government to encourage the return of all opposition militants living abroad, Dago said. However there are reports of splits within the MDD and challenges to Medella, AFP said on Monday. The MDD's interim president and secretary general, Gaileth Bourkoumandaha, said that he had expelled Medella from the party denouncing the Khartoum accord as a treacherous act that did not reflect the position of the MDD. Asked if these splits within the party would have any implications for the accord, Dago said "none whatsoever, as far as we are concerned Medella signed the agreement as leader of the MDD". The MDD operates in the western region of Lake Chad and is one of the oldest armed opposition groups fighting the government of President Idriss Deby, according to AFP.