By Meryl A. White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NDJAMENA, Chad– Along the border of Eastern Chad and Sudan, there has been heavy fighting since a state of emergency was declared in the region. During the month of October, more than 300 people have been killed in the region.

Houmadji Moussa Doumgor, spokesman for Chad’s government, has stated that the government and military will use the state of emergency to “survey all comings and goings to prevent continued attacks.”

Annette Rehrl, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, believes that the recent flare up of events were predictable. She stated, “I think the violence has been interrupted only by celebrating Ramadan for the past month. So we were expecting it, it is not completely news to us, because we are still in a very volatile and very dangerous political situation here.

Rebel leader Mahamat Nour agreed to sign a peace agreement with the government of Chad. Nevertheless, Nour was recently quoted saying that the agreement will represent only “partial peace” and rebel fighting will continue.

On October 10, Steve Godbold, a 48-year-old American aid worker was kidnapped by militants in Tibesti, located in the northern part of Chad. This kidnapping was directed as a warning to foreigners to stay out of the militant region. Negotiations are currently under way with the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) rebels to secure the release of Godbold.

In early November, 3,000 European peacekeepers are expected to assist in Chad and the neighboring Central African Republic. They will help to provide protection to more than 300,000 Sudanese refugees who have crossed the border into Chad.

For more information, please see:

Reuters- Chad says US missionary kidnapped by rebels – 18 October 2007

BBC- Chad rebels battle army in east – 19 October 2007

VOA- State of Emergency Takes Effect in North, Eastern Chad – 17 October 2007