Chadian Public Security Minister Routouang Yoma Golom said on Thursday five suspected Sudanese rebels detained in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, had been turned over to African Union (AU) officials.
"This gesture of the Chadian government is testimony to Chad’s genuine will for peace to reign in Darfur," Golom told reporters.
A police official said the suspected rebels, reportedly from the Justice and Equality Movement, which did not sign an Au-brokered peace deal for Darfur in May, had been detained in N’Djamena. He said at least one suspected rebel was arrested in Abeche, a village in eastern Chad near the border with Darfur, Sudan's western region.
Chad and Sudan signed an accord at the end of July agreeing not to harbour rebels in one another’s territory. The accord was followed by a public display of reconciliation between the presidents of Chad and Sudan after they had broken off relations in April.
Sudanese rebels had circulated freely in N’Djamena, where they own homes and at one point occupied the buildings of the Sudanese embassy in the city.
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"This gesture of the Chadian government is testimony to Chad’s genuine will for peace to reign in Darfur," Golom told reporters.
A police official said the suspected rebels, reportedly from the Justice and Equality Movement, which did not sign an Au-brokered peace deal for Darfur in May, had been detained in N’Djamena. He said at least one suspected rebel was arrested in Abeche, a village in eastern Chad near the border with Darfur, Sudan's western region.
Chad and Sudan signed an accord at the end of July agreeing not to harbour rebels in one another’s territory. The accord was followed by a public display of reconciliation between the presidents of Chad and Sudan after they had broken off relations in April.
Sudanese rebels had circulated freely in N’Djamena, where they own homes and at one point occupied the buildings of the Sudanese embassy in the city.
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