Bashir arrives in Chad after expelling rebel chiefs from Khartoum

President Bashir arrived yesterday afternoon in Chad and was greeted by Chadian President Idriss Deby. He will participate in the two-day summit of the Sahel-Saharan states, which begins today. This is Bashir’s first visit abroad since he was charged with three counts of genocide by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and also his first visit to a country that is a full member of the ICC.Ahead of the visit, Sudanese authorities expelled three prominent leaders of the Chadian armed opposition, which in recent years has invaded Chad repeatedly from Sudanese territory. Chadian media had first reported on Sunday that the Chadian rebel chiefs would be quitting Sudan within days, saying that Mahamat Nouri will relocate to Saudi Arabia, Timan Erdimi will relocate to Qatar and Adouna Hassaballah will relocate to Jordan. The three men left Sudan on Tuesday evening, according to a spokesman of the ‘Union des forces de la résistance’, who spoke to Agence-France Presse. The spokesman of the Chadian rebel coalition added that the expulsion would not affect the strength and position of the movements, noting the movements do not desire to stay abroad, but rather to return to Chad.

Sudanese state media reported that Bashir and Deby yesterday discussed the re-opening and rehabilitation of roads between Sudan and Chad, as well as the proposed establishment of a railway line between the two countries. Bashir’s visit follows a visit by Deby to Khartoum in February. At that meeting the two Heads of State agreed to normalize ties and end the proxy war they were fighting against each other. During that visit Deby announced that Chadian opposition forces sheltering in Sudan could return to Chad if they put down their arms and become part of “civil society.”

Sudan’s military intelligence and security forces had provided the Chadian rebel forces with arms, vehicles, munitions and training for several invasions of Chad, according to reports of UN arms embargo inspectors. Likewise, Chad has also apparently ceased its support to the Justice and Equality Movement, which it too provided with arms and supplies.

In interviews with Radio Dabanga yesterday, a Darfuri refugee leader in eastern Chad, as well as the founder and president of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdel Wahid Al Nur, called on President Deby to arrest Bashir and hand him over to the ICC to face trial. Chad has ruled out this possibility.

Photo credit: Chadian state television.