BRIEF: African Rebels Threaten EU Peacekeepers

N'DJAMENA, Chad - Chadian rebels warned the EU against sending peacekeepers to Sudan’s Darfur region today, threatening to fight against them as a “foreign occupation army” if they ally themselves with the president of Chad, Idriss Deby.

Meanwhile, Chadian officials have accused the rebel group, Assembly of Forces for Change (RFC), of being backed by the government of Sudan.

Some 4,000 EU peacekeepers were to be deployed to the region earlier this month, but their deployment was delayed by the failure of nations to supply adequate numbers of troops and resources.

There is also concern over the EU peacekeepers’ neutrality based on France’s strong support for President Deby. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Chad rebels warn EU peace force - 29 November 2007