Chad: Ancient Animosities Annul Agreement

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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.