May 2,
2008: The European peacekeeping force is still
dribbling into Chad. Full strength of 3,700 troops won't be achieved until next
month, if then. It's very slow going getting personnel and equipment into
landlocked Chad. Meanwhile, NGOs and aid workers are at more risk. This week,
the head of the "Save The Children" NGO was killed by men pretending to be
soldiers (or maybe they were soldiers moonlighting as bandits). Many NGOs are
pulling out of Chad, or planning to do so. If the European peacekeepers do not
reduce the banditry and violence this Summer, a lot of the aid groups will be
gone by the end of the year. The smart money is on the bandits.
April 26,
2008: Attempts to placate rebel groups by bringing some rebel leaders into the
government (and paying them a share of the oil money) have failed. One of the
largest rebel groups, the National Alliance, refused to participate and accused
the government of being stingy and unreliable. The friction in Chad is largely
based on personal animosity and tribal rivalries. It's difficult to make peace
under these conditions.
April 23,
2008: Foreign food aid organizations plan to increase refugee food rations
(which had been cut in half this month) in May, to restore them to normal.
