By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – The commander of the Chadian government forces, Gen Mahamat Ali Abdallah, has stated that the rebels are “completely routed” in N’Djamena the capital.

Presently, heavy strain is now being placed on Kousseri, a Cameroon town bordering Chad. Thousands of refugees are fleeing Chad to escape rebels who have stormed N’Djamena, the Capital of Chad. The estimated number of refugees have reached 20,000. In response, France has stepped in to help in the evacuation process since Chad is a former French colony.

The UN refugee agency released in a new report that on Tuesday, “frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow” from Chad to Cameroon. UNHCR plans to move the refugees to a campsite 30 kilometers from Kouserri that can hold up to 100,000 people. Today, more than 3,000 refugees from Chad have fled to Nigeria.

France has stated that country would be prepared to intervene in the conflict if the situation did not get better. President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would “do its duty” if necessary. He also stated, “If Chad were a victim of an aggression, France would have — and I stress the conditional tense — the means to resist this action.”

Presently, the government of Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels. Sudan denies the charges.

In the upcoming weeks, the European Union peace force is preparing to deploy troops to eastern Chad. 3,7000 peacekeepers will protect refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region and people displaced by the internal conflict.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Thousand of Refugees Flee Chad – 5 February 2008

BBC- UN Gives Support To Chad Leader  5 February 2008

Associated Press – France Ready to Give Chad Help – 5 February 2008

Newsweek – World Must Help Chad – 5 February 2008