Chad and South Sudan condemn Sudanese threats
Sudan’s neighbours South Sudan and Chad have warned of regional escalation after condemning threats made by a top Sudanese general.
According to Saudi news agency Asharq Al-Awsat on March 25th, Sudanese Assistant Deputy Commander in Chief General Yasir al-Atta has claimed that airports in N’Djamena and Amdrarass in Chad were “legitimate military targets”.
General al-Atta went on to claim that South Sudan – who gained independence from Khartoum in 2011 – were harbouring “traitors”.
Sudan has accused both South Sudan and Chad of supporting the rebel group Rapid Support Force (RSF) whom the army have been in conflict with since April 2023.
In response, South Sudan released a statement condemning the remarks as a “blatant violation of international law.”
Chad backed up South Sudan’s statement and claimed that General al-Atta’s accusations “could be interpreted as a declaration of war” and vowed a “firm and proportionate” response if such an attack were made.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the rebel RSF group has led to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis according to the United Nations.
Thus far, the conflict has been contained to civil war in Sudan however worrying signs are appearing that suggest that the conflict could spread across the Sahel region.
As reported by Maghrebi on March 23rd, growing tensions between South Sudan’s two main leaders, President Salva Kiir and
Vice President Riek Machar risk plunging the country into violence.
Political instability in South Sudan will do little to ease tensions with their conflict stricken, northern neighbour.
For paramilitary groups like the RSF, political instability provides them with opportunities to grow their influence.
As well as accusing South Sudan of harbouring RSF members, Sudan filed an official complaint at the African Union’s African Commission on Human and People’s Rights against the fact that Chad was supplying the RSF with soldiers and military gear.
The RSF have been accused of committing war crimes throughout Sudan and accused of committing acts of genocide in the Darfur region.
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