Chad, Sudan Discuss Joint Border Patrols

June 24, 2008 (DAKAR) – Military experts from feuding neighbours Chad and Sudan met on Tuesday to discuss how to patrol their 1500 km long common border zone.

According to a non-aggression pact signed in the Senegalese capital, on the sidelined of the Islamic Conference summit on March 13, the two countries agreed to deploy a monitoring force to ensure stability on the joint border and to establish a contact group composed of Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya and Senegal.

General David Ngomine Beadimadji led a team of Chadian military experts, while Sudanese General Ibrahim Ezzedin led his country’s delegation. Negotiations began on Tuesday, a day late due to the late arrival of the Sudanese.

"Chad will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, Sudan will supply its own soldiers to patrol its own border, and the peace and security force will become a mechanism for observing the two countries," Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio told reporters at an opening ceremony on Monday.

Senegal and Libya, both members of a "contact group" following implementation of the Dakar peace deal, had identified 10 sites suitable for border surveillance posts, he said.

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