May 5, 2007: Darfur rebels have refused to
stay out of Chad, thus dooming the new peace deal with Sudan. Nothing has
changed. What's going on between Chad and Sudan is an extension of the ethnic
cleansing in Darfur. The president of Chad, Indris Deby, is a black African,
and thus not trusted by the ethnic (mostly) Arab rulers of Sudan. Chad is, like
many African countries, divided by religion. The northern tribes are Moslem,
the southern ones are Christian. Moreover, some of the northern tribes of Chad
are Arab, or largely Arab. These ethnic and religious differences have been
causing violence in this neighborhood for centuries. The situation is not going
to be changed quickly.
May 3, 2007: In Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Chad signed
a peace deal, brokered by the Saudis. Both sides agreed to stop supporting
rebels from the other country. Deals like this have been made before, and
quickly broken. The rebel groups have not been consulted, and neither country
has the ability to shut down all the rebels.
April 14, 2007: Chad apologized to Sudan for
casualties Chadian troops inflicted when a border battle against raiders spread
into Sudan. But Chad said they would continue to pursue raiders and rebels
across the border into Sudan.
