Diplomatic ties reopened

The border between Chad and Sudan will be reopened and full diplomatic ties resumed after a four-month break following an agreement struck between the two countries’ heads of state in the Chadian capital. The two committed to “put an end to their differences” and reopen embassies and border crossings, according to a government communiqué issued after the meeting on Tuesday. They met on the sidelines of a ceremony in the Chadian capital N'djamena inaugurating Deby into a third five-year term in office. Deby seized power in a coup in 1990 launched from Sudanese territory with the backing of the Sudanese government. Relations between the two countries deteriorated when both started accusing the other of supporting rebel movements in their respective countries. Chad broke diplomatic relations with Sudan on 15 April, one day after anti-government rebels it alleged were based in Sudan and Central African Republic launched a deadly attack on the Chadian capital N’djamena. Both sides have given shelter to rebel groups, with Sudanese rebels playing a particularly active role in eastern Chad. Rebels have been recruiting fighters from refugee camps, but also defending Chadian towns against militia attacks from the volatile Darfur region of Sudan. On 26 July, Chad and Sudan signed an agreement agreeing to stop hosting each others' rebel forces in their territory. The agreement in N’djamena meant Bashir and Deby did not travel to the Senegalese capital Dakar on Wednesday as expected for a scheduled summit meeting supposed to be mediated by Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade. mn/nr/ccr