Fred Vubem
17 July 2007
There is a stalemate in peace talks between the Chadian government and rebels in the east of the country which is currently taking place in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
The talks taking place under the mediation of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, began last June 22 and since then the belligerents have met only five times. Both government and the rebels are trading accusations over responsibility for the failure of the talks.
"Government is dragging its feet and this makes us believe there is no will", said Abakar Tollimi of the UFDD, the strongest rebel group east of Chad. Meanwhile, the government claims it is the rebels who have been showing proof of intransigence by rejecting the general amnesty and the integration of the rebels in the national army. "If the extended hand of government is abused, it will be transformed into a canon", said Ahmat Bachir, Chadian interior minister.
The rebels are asking for appointment of a Prime Minister from among their ranks and the formation of a government of national unity. The rebels have however made some concessions such as renouncing their demand for a change of the Chadian constitution. They also abandoned their earlier demand for the political opposition and the civil society to be included in the negotiations.
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