July 24, 2007: No one has offered their troops for
the European Union peacekeeper force headed to Chad. But France is expected to
contribute most of them, and cajole or shame others to pitch in. That said,
it's going to take up to six months to get this force organized. Many European
nations are uneasy about sending troops to Chad. This is in reaction to
opposition politicians in Chad threatening violence if foreign troops enter the
country. There are already some French troops there, to help keep president
Deby in power. But more are not wanted by most of the dozens of tribes that
make up Chad. The tribes have never gotten along well.
The EU plan is to send
helicopters with the force so that a zone on the Sudanese border, 900
kilometers long, and up to 400 kilometers deep, can be cleared of illegal armed
groups. This is expected to result in some fighting with the various armed
factions.
July 19, 2007: After months of
badgering by the UN, and especially France, Chad president Deby has agreed to
allow European Union peacekeepers in eastern Chad. How many and when was not
mentioned.
