Government denies rebel attack in the south

A senior Chadian official denied on Thursday media reports of a rebel attack near the southeastern town of Gore.

On Wednesday, AFP had cited a local newspaper, ‘Le Progres’, as reporting that armed elements of a guerrilla group led by Moise Kette had attacked a truck 35 km from Gore, a town in the region of Logone Orientale, killing two people and wounding six.

However, the government official, who asked not to be identified by name, said the area was peaceful following a recent agreement with Kette’s group, one of several in the country. “Last week there was a meeting with Moise Kette in which we (the government and Kette) decided to reconcile,” the offcial said.

AFP said, “a few hours before the attack” Kette, who heads the Comite de Sursaut national pour la paix et la democratie, (CSNPD), notified local authorities that he had broken the 17 July ceasefire. The report did not say why he had done so.

The CNSPD has been active in the oil-rich Doba area in Logone Orientale, AFP said.