Chad gov't reaffirms accusation that Sudan is backing the anti-government troops

”Sudan's role in backing the rebels and their involvement in the attack on Chad is confirmed even in the UN reports. The rebels' barracks which are in Sudan are known by all organizations and by the UN itself."

From Sudan Radio Service 10 May 2009 (N’djamena/Chad):

The Chadian government says that their army has defeated anti-government groups who had advanced 150 kilometers inside Chadian territory.

The Chadian Minister of Information, Mohamed Hussein, spoke to Sudan Radio Service on Sunday from N’djamena, about the clashes with the anti-government groups.

[Mohamed Hussein]: ”Until yesterday, (Saturday) our army was chasing the remaining 3 or 4 soldiers who were walking on foot in the valleys. We had an easy win against the anti-government group who has been sent by Sudan. They don’t want to confess that they have badly lost the battle, we took the media to the field and they reported from there.”

On Saturday, the UN Security Council condemned the attack and the supporters of the Chad anti-government groups. However, the statement did not mention Sudan as supporting the armed groups.

The Chadian government has reaffirmed its accusation that Sudan is backing the anti-government troops.

[Mohamed Hussein]: ”Sudan's role in backing the rebels and their involvement in the attack on Chad is confirmed even in the UN reports. The rebels' barracks which are in Sudan are known by all organizations and by the UN itself. Sudan’s support to these armies, giving them orders, are well known by all parties, Sudan must not forget that sometimes a lot of people from the rebels join our army and they give us all the details.”

When asked about the future of the sixth goodwill declaration signed with Sudan last Sunday in Doha, Hussein cast doubts on Sudan’s willingness to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

[Mohamed Hussein]: ”In the beginning, we wanted to solve the problem by using diplomatic means, but when you agree with a party who violates the agreement and prefers violence, so we are forced to prepare our army to block all attacks coming from Sudan. Sudan is forcing us to choose war.”

Sudan and Chad regularly accuse each other of supporting anti-government groups trying to overthrow their respective governments.