call for “an inclusive and peaceful solution” was launched today by the Chadian rebels of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) in a statement, received this morning by MISNA, reiterating the will “to reach a definitive peaceful solution”.
“The actions carried out by the UFDD forces from November 26 to 27 in east Chad in the area between Adré and Abecheé – reads the statement, referring to the clashes of the past days near the two main cities of east Chad – demonstrate our intent to overthrow the clanic and despotic government of N’Djamena, but at the same time we reiterate our availability to seek a definitive peaceful solution”.
The statement, signed by the UFDD spokesman Mahamat Hassane Boulmaye, underlines that there are “numerous” mediation efforts, particularly of the African community, and that “dialogue is the only means to peacefully reach a global solution” to the Chadian crisis. The rebels instead accused France and its forces present in east Chad, under old defence accords with the former colony, of “protecting the dictators” and intervening in support of the Chadian government.
The UFDD is only one of numerous rebel groups active for nearly two years in east Chad in an aim to overthrow President Idriss Deby. Aside from the UFDD, the fighting of the past days also involved the United Front for Change (FUC) of the former Defence minister Mahamat Nour – removed last Saturday by the President – and men of the Rally of Forces for Change (RFC).
The UFDD and RFC on October 25 signed a peace accord with the government in Sirte (Libya), but a month later declared the annulment of the deal, accusing the government of not respecting the conditions.
Also the FUC in December 2006 reached an accord with N’Djamena, which led to the entry in government of its leader Mahamat Nour. The failure of the FUC rebels to integrate into Chad’s armed forces and alleged government force abuse of members of the Tama ethnic group (a majority in the movement) in the past weeks led to a resumption of hostilities.
(From MISNA)