June 25,
2008: The Chadian National Alliance rebels
have been beaten again, and the survivors of the recent offensive have fled
back to Sudan. The rebel force was apparently over a thousand men, and less
than a third of them got back across the border. Many have surrendered to the
Chad army. Chad is still angry with the EU peacekeepers for not helping out,
although the French appear to have provided some crucial intelligence (aerial
photos of rebel movements). But it was up to the army to confront the rebels
and fight it out.
This
recent rebel defeat appears to have demoralized Sudan, which has seen four National
Alliance offensives fail. Apparently as a result, Sudan and Chad military
leaders are meeting in Senegal to discuss how to better patrol their mutual
border.
June 19,
2008: The government victory at Am-Zoer
quickly eliminated the chaos that had shut down many foreign aid activities.
Suddenly, the roads are open and the phones are working.
June 18,
2008: Chad accused Sudan of sending its
troops in, disguised as Chad rebels, to attack Chadian towns. Hard to tell,
what with all the young guys with guns driving around in trucks and SUVs. Chad
claimed to have stopped a rebel convoy at the town of Am-Zoer, which is 70 kilometers
northwest of Abeche, which is itself a key town for the foreign aid groups running
twelve major refugee camps in the vicinity. The Am-Zoer battle appears to have
been a major one, with the government claiming 161 dead rebels, 23 captured and
61 rebel vehicles captured or destroyed. The rebels claim that in the past week
their forces have captured a hundred soldiers, and both sides have suffered
over 300 casualties (dead and wounded). Air operations have been interrupted
because of roadblocks and cuts in local phone service.
June 17,
2008: The Chadian National Alliance
rebels continued their advance west, moving through several more major towns
without encountering any major resistance from government forces. Meanwhile,
the government complained that the EU peacekeeping force was doing nothing to
keep the peace (by stopping the rebels.) The EU replied that it doesn't do
rebels, and would restrict itself to protecting refugees, and civilians in
general. The Chad government would have to protect itself.
June 16,
2008: The U.S. embassy in the capital
has relocated most of its operations to neighboring Cameroon.
