News from Chad and Sudan

Chad says army repelled rebel attack. This article was written April 10, 2006.

N'DJAMENA, Chad (Reuters) -- Chad's army has repulsed an attempt by rebels to seize a southeastern town, the latest clash in a rebel campaign to try to disrupt elections next month, a government official said Monday.

As usual in Chad, there are conflicting stories.

In Sunday's attack, the most recent by insurgents fighting to topple President Idriss Deby, the rebel United Front for Democratic Change said it seized Haraze-Mangueigne and two towns farther northwest, Am Timan and Abou-Deia.

The Chadian government denies this. To read the whole article, please click on the title.

Security council sets April 30 deadline for Darfur peace deal. This article was written April 11, 2006. Hmm. Do they expect just because they set an arbitrary date it will be so? They need to start with themselves!

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. Security Council demanded that the Sudanese government and rebels reach agreement by April 30 to end the conflict in Darfur and reaffirmed its determination to hold accountable those blocking peace and violating human rights.

They are joking, aren't they? The UN is going to hold anyone accountable for anything? Might I inquire as to what happens on May 1, 2006, when it does not occur?

Rebels strike deep inside Chad. This article was written April 12, 2006. The French are involved, and they are sending 150 more troops to bring the total to 1200 men there to protect the 1,500 Frenchmen that are there. The fighting broke out over newly discovered oil.

The rebels' first attack deep inside Chad came Tuesday in the central town of Mongo, just three weeks before a presidential election scheduled for May 3. There were no casualties in Tuesday's raid in Mongo, 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital, said Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor, the communications minister and government spokesman. He described the gunmen as mercenaries. The government has said rebel groups in Chad are mercenaries and militia working on behalf of the government of neighboring Sudan, a charge Sudan denies.

Chad breaks relations with Sudan. This article was written April 14, 2006, and it is the prelude to this article: Chad threatens oil cutoff over World Bank dispute. On the 14th, Chad threatened to expel all the Darfurian refugees. Later they claimed they were misunderstood. They say they never made that statement.

Sidenote: It is hard to misconstrue the expulsion of a vast number of people if the issue did not present itself, sir. For example:

President Idriss Deby said the more than 200,000 of refugees living in Chad must leave by June 30, if the international community does not try to stop Sudan from further destabilizing his country.

"The international community has been totally deaf and dumb on the situation between Sudan and Chad," Deby said after an emergency Cabinet meeting. They "need to understand the situation and that enough is enough."

Enough said? On April 16, he was reported as saying,

Deby announced Friday that he was severing relations with neighboring Sudan and threatened to expel 200,000 Sudanese refugees if the international community did not do more to stop what he claimed were Sudanese backed-rebels from destabilizing his government before the May 3 presidential election. (Full story)

He did change his tune, but quick! The World Bank is responsible for the funds he received to feed his people. He used it, instead, to revamp his army.

Chad expects deal in oil payments dispute. This article was written April 18, 2006.

The central African country has threatened to stop oil output by the end of April unless the World Bank unblocks frozen production royalties or the Exxon Mobil-led consortium in the country pays at least $100 million.

First of all, let us understand why the World Bank froze his assets. You were stealing money from it.

"The U.S. government is going to get involved to find a compromise as quickly as possible," Hassan said.

Oh really? All you car-driving people, understand this. I do not want to hear you crying in your beer about the price of gas. The only reason our government would be doing such a dasterdly thing is so that YOU can drive you stupid car.

Chad's president: Military action may be needed in Darfur. This article was written today, April 19, 2006.

The Sudanese government is accused of responding to an uprising by Darfur rebels by unleashing Arab tribal militias known as Janjaweed to murder and rape civilians and lay waste to villages -- a charge it denies.

The conflict has forced hundreds of thousands of Sudanese to flee their homes, many to camps in Chad. The influx of weapons that has accompanied the fighting adds to the chaos of mass displacement.

Chadian rebels have taken advantage of the lack of order, basing themselves in Darfur and last week managing a strike on Deby's capital. There are also reports that opponents of the government of the Central African Republic, another nation in the region, are gathering in the border area. And Nigeria, which borders the Central African Republic, has expressed concern it could be destabilized if even more people are displaced by the latest fighting.

Well. What do you know about this? Many Christians and I have been warning about the situation in Darfur far more than three years! There are many groups, Save Darfur being only one (but a very fine one!) which have been trying to get the word out. Would you please help?

Please write and call your Congressperson and Senators at toll free 1-877-762-8762. It is necessary. They (the Darfurians) need our voices to be heard loudly and clearly for them. It is truly a matter of life and death. Surely you have two minutes for that...