Both countries are permanent victims of cross-border attacks, especially from Darfur.

Two African countries, Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), have remained identical twins in the world of war, fuelled by internal socio-economic and political strive and callous foreign influence. Both countries are hobled by weak rulers, and the prospect of oil wealth in both countries stimulates domestic rebel movements.

Deby's rise to power was funded by Sudan and Libya in 1990, after a particularly unstable period of endemic conflicts. While in office, Deby instituted a constitutional democracy and struggled to maintain control over Chad's ethnically- and religiously-diverse society. But as he approached his constitutional term limit, rifts began to emerge within his political base. Factions of his supporters defected to rebel groupings in the east when Deby pushed through constitutional reforms that allowed him to stand for a third term.

Sitting on even more fertile grounds for political instability than Chad, the C.A.R has experienced 11 attempted coups in just ten years. In their attempt to push that number to 12, rebels have taken control over towns in the northeast of the country, such as Birao, Ouanda Djalle and Sam-Ouandja, near the Chad-Sudan border and have threatened the capital in Bangui.

The rebels, united under the auspices of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (U.F.D.R.), claim similar grievances as those in Chad: the central government has not shared the wealth generated by natural resources with the regional ethnic groups outside of its political base. President Francois Bozize has concentrated more efforts in containing rebel insurgencies rather than strengthening his country's economy.

That apart both countries have remained permanent victims of cross-border attacks. Violence in Darfur, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in ethnic conflict since 2003, has spread to neighbouring C.A.R and Chad. Both countries have accused Sudan of supporting militias who have crossed the border from war-torn Darfur to attack and in some cases occupy villages within their territories.

The government of Chad and the C.A.R have called for the deployment of international peacekeepers. Folowing the request, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1706, adopted in August, said the U.N. Mission in Sudan would monitor activities of armed groups along the Sudanese borders with C.A.R. But security has remained porous at the borders. Only former colonial power France maintains a military base in Chad and has forces stationed C.A.R.

Sudan has however repeatedly denied the accusations.