‘Joint Sudan-Chad forces need headquarters, training, vehicles’: conference

The fifth annual conference for the assessment of the performance of Joint Sudanese-Chadian Forces concluded in Khartoum on Sunday. A memorandum was signed concerning the transferral of troops to the Chadian side of the border. The conference stressed the need for implementation of previous recommendations. In addition, the Sudanese Ministry of Finance should fulfil its obligations to finance the completion of the Joint Forces’ headquarters in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur. In the recommendations of the fifth conference, state governments and institutions are urged to provide essential services in coordination with the Joint Forces, to issue directives to the concerned authorities to provide a helicopter for the Joint Forces if required. The Joint Forces should arrange for the movement of troops without conflicting with others.   Training should be provided to qualify the troops of the Joint Forces to “enhance their skills in all fields”. The conference also recommended the provision of spare parts for Joint Forces’ vehicles, and the replacement of old vehicles with newer ones.’ Photo: Damaged Sudanese army vehicles (archive Radio Dabanga)