Chad president urges rapid deployment of EU troops
The EU force’s mission is to protect refugees from Sudan’s conflict-wracked Darfur region that borders Chad and civilians displaced by fighting in Chad. The deployment, delayed earlier by logistical problems, was put off again because of the rebel attack on Chad’s capital.
President Idriss Deby, in a radio interview with Europe-1, said that “to be guarantor of 300,000 Sudanese refugees, 170,000 displaced Chadians, this is a big weight and it takes a lot of our strength.”
On Wednesday, the relief group Save the Children said they were running out of food and supplies for camps serving more than 500,000 people, including displaced Chadians and Sudanese refugees. No civilian planes — including aid flights — have been allowed into Chad since the fighting started.
Oil-rich Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels in an attempt to prevent deployment of the European force. Sudan has long resisted such a force, but has denied involvement in Chad’s coup attempt.
Meanwhile, Chad’s prime minister declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital, N’Djamena, and in six southern and eastern regions of the country to help restore order.
Prime Minister Nouradin Koumakoye told reporters the curfew was necessary to “restore calm in the country and deal with the damage done by the Sudanese army.”
Sudan has repeatedly denied charges that it supported rebels who entered the capital over the weekend, only to be pushed back by government forces.
The rebels accuse Deby of corruption and embezzling millions in oil revenue.
While many Chadians may share that assessment, the uprising appears to be a power struggle within the elite that has long controlled Chad; rebellion leaders including Mahamat Nouri, a former defence minister; and Timan Erdimi, a nephew of Deby who was his chief of staff.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
