Ban condemns bombings along Chadian-Sudanese border

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today deplored reported bombings along or near the Chadian-Sudanese border and urged both countries to exercise restraint and improve their frayed bilateral relations amid rising tensions in the region.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was disturbed by the report that Chadian aircraft dropped bombs near the village of Umm Dukhum in the Sudanese region of West Darfur last week.

“These events put the lives of Sudanese civilians at risk and could increase the tensions between the two countries,” the statement said.

“The Secretary-General condemns the incident and takes note that the Government of Sudan has rightly responded through diplomatic means. He urges both Governments to show restraint and make greater efforts to improve their relations.”

The statement noted that Mr. Ban is also concerned by reports that Sudanese Government forces bombed rebel positions in the Jebel Moon area of West Darfur on the weekend. He called on the Government and other parties to the conflict to cease all military actions and commit to a cessation of hostilities.

“The Secretary-General reiterates that the only solution to the conflict in Darfur is through an inclusive, political statement.”

Today, in his latest report on the UN mission to Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), known as MINURCAT, Mr. Ban said recent clashes in the region have further destabilized the already insecure border between Chad and Sudan’s volatile Darfur region, areas also facing a grave humanitarian crisis.

The day after the Chadian and Sudanese Governments signed an agreement, violence broke out on the border when rebels entered eastern Chad on 4 May.

Authorities from Chad accused Sudan of supporting the incursion, and launched air raids against Chadian rebels in Darfur, a move the Sudanese Government labelled an “act of war,” according to the report.

The Secretary-General stressed that “enduring stabilization” in the region requires both nations to resolve continuing internal conflicts.

He voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in eastern Chad, where 260,000 Sudanese refugees, 70,600 CAR refugees and 171,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are receiving assistance.

But the volatile security situation, combined with the lack of access to basic services in return areas, will likely preclude the voluntary return of uprooted people this year, he noted.

On Friday, the head of the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Rodolphe Adada, also voiced concerns about the ongoing tensions between Chad and Sudan.

The new publication on MINURCAT said that the mission continues supporting the Détachement intégré de sécurité (DIS), a special unit composed of Chadian police and gendarmes trained by blue helmets who are responsible for the protection of refugees and IDPs in eastern Chad, underscoring that “it is and will remain a community policing force.”

As a result, DIS has limited capacity to respond to military threats, Mr. Ban said, calling for the deployment of the full MINURCAT force to be expedited. Currently, 2,424 troops – less than half of the 5,225 authorized by the Security Council – are deployed with the mission.

In September 2007, the Council approved the establishment of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

On 15 March, UN peacekeepers took over the military and security responsibilities of EU forces.