DOHA, May 4 – Sudan and Chad have agreed to end hostilities and to set up a summit between the leaders of the two neighbouring African states after talks in the Qatari capital Doha.
"The agreement stipulates the halting of hostilities, and everyone is now looking to the future, especially as both countries and people have big interests (in reconciliation)," Ahmad Abdullah al-Mahmud, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, told reporters on Sunday.
Qatar and Libya have been leading reconciliation efforts between Chad and Sudan after they restored diplomatic ties in November following a six-month hiatus amid allegations that each was supporting rebels in the other country.
"The better the relations between Sudan and Chad, the easier it would be to reach a solution," to the conflict in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, Mahmud said.
"Both countries have a desire to solve the problem in such a way as benefit the people of Darfur and Sudan."
As part of the agreement, Sudan and Chad have undertaken to implement previous deals on border controls to block the transit of Chadian rebels from Sudan and Sudanese rebels from Chad, Qatari officials said.
Qatar has been preparing separately for a possible peace conference between the Sudanese government of President Omar al-Beshir and Darfur rebels, who have been locked in more than six years of conflict.
Relations between Chad and Sudan have long been tumultuous, and analysts and African leaders say no peace can come to Darfur, which lies on border, until the two countries are on better terms.
About The Author
