By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NDJAMENA, Chad – The government has declared a twelve day state of emergency in three regions of Chad. More than 20 people have died in ethnic clashes in the eastern provinces of Quaddaj and Wadi Fira and in the northern region of Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti.

The bloodshed in Darfur, Sudan, has spilled over into Chad and the Central African Republic. Presently, there are 240,000 refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region in eastern Chad and 173,000 internally displaced people.

The latest of clashes in Chad are between two tribes, the Tama and the Zaghawa. The clashes lasted for a period of three days in the eastern district of Dar Tama. The fighting was sparked by claims that members of one tribe stole livestock and cattle from members of the other tribe.

Tama rebel leader Mahamat Nour has accused the Zaghawas of starting the current conflict. He said,”The Tama problem is a real problem, people are dying in their hundreds. All they had as cattle has been rustled.”

The Foreign Minister to Chad stated “We dare to hope that it will create conditions that will foster stability and reconstruction in the eastern region of our country that have been devastated by incursions of the Sudanese Janjaweed and other armed men coming from Darfur.”

Experts believe that a peace agreement between rival groups will help pave the way for the United Nations to send in peacekeeping forces in Chad’s insecure eastern border

Starting in early November, 3,000 EU troops and 300 UN police are expected to arrive in Chad to oversee relief efforts at displacement camps.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Chad Rebels agree move to peace – 4 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Chad: Government, Rebels Reach Peace Deal – 4 October 2007

BBC- Chad State of Emergency Imposed- – 16 October 2007

Herald Tribune- Chad Declares State of Emergency in Three Regions – 16 October 2007