Ethiopian Review

KHARTOUM — Sudan has lodged a complaint to the UN Security Council over raid by Chadian warplanes inside its territory on July 16.

Sudan informed the UN Security Council about the Chadian violations and repeated, criminal and unjustified attacks on the Sudanese territory. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abdelmahmood Abdelhalim, said on Saturday.

Two Chadian warplanes violated the Sudanese territory and launched air attack in the remote area of Um Dukhun in West Darfur near the Chadian border last Thursday.

Ndjamena admitted the attack saying its army attacked inside Sudanese soil to stop a column coming from inside its Eastern neighbor.

Chadian information minister Mohamed Hussein said that Sudan sent “mercenaries” in four wheel drive cars to plant landmines inside Chad but that some of them were captured.

Abdelmahmood also accused “some powers” within the Security Council of supporting Chad saying they are “well known”.

The Sudanese Ambassador had attacked France in the past of supporting Chad. Last May, when Ndjamena filled a complaint against Sudan accusing it of supporting a rebel attack in eastern Chad, Abdelmahmood said Paris had redacted the complaint.

The Sudanese Ambassador added that Sudan reserves the right to fully repel these “irresponsible acts and to respond to this irresponsible aggression.”

On the other hand, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Samani al-Wasila, dismissed today Sudan’s support to the Chadian rebels saying “Sudan has no interest in undermining Chad’s security.”

Al-Samani further warned Chad that Sudan would not hold back “if its interests and citizens are harmed.”

Also, the Sudanese Media Centre, a pro-government website, reported that Business activities between the two countries halted as a consequence of the attack.

Rodolphe Adada, head of Darfur peacekeeping force, urged the two countries to stop military escalation and to resolve their differences peacefully. “I encourage you to desist from conflict even as diplomatic efforts are being undertaken to bring an end to the ongoing tensions which could exacerbate conditions for Darfur’s civilians.” He said.

- ST