Chad denies supporting any warring factions in Sudan conflict

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – The Chadian government on Monday dismissed as “false” a media report indicating that the country has provided support to one of the warring factions in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The report, citing “a Chadian diplomatic source,” was published Sunday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs...wishes to formally deny this false information given by a Chadian diplomatic source,” it said in a statement.

The government said in the circumstances, the most authoritative diplomatic source remains the foreign minister.

The ministry denounced the dissemination of the information, which is intended to “damage” Chad’s image.

It urged “caution and responsibility” to all those who may be tempted to relay the same “unfounded information.”

The government also deplored the violence in Sudan and stressed the urgent need for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Several African countries including Chad on Monday began to evacuate their nationals from Sudan.

Chad’s Minister of Communication Aziz Mahamat Saleh said the government had arranged evacuation for 438 Chadian nationals from the capital Khartoum to Port Sudan, where a special repatriation flight will pick them up.

These include pilgrims, diplomats and their families as well as patients and students.

Chad's transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has spoken to the leaders of the warring factions twice since the fighting broke out, urging them to cease hostilities.

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has warned against external interference in the crisis which “could complicate the situation in Sudan.”

More than 400 people have been reported killed and 3,500 injured since April 15, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and its surroundings.