N'Djamena, 03/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - With the end of the EUFOR mandate in sight, the government of Chad has raised its game towards the international community. Despite the signature of the SOFA (Status of Forces) agreements, which exempted EUFOR aircraft from having to pay airport charges, N'Djamena has decided to tax planes landing on its runways more (effectively, all aircraft transporting freight and personnel on behalf of EUFOR, which are not specifically referred to in the agreements). The charges are in the order of €15,000 - €20,000 per aircraft. Under these conditions, a number of countries have sought to reduce the number of rotations by increasing the loads transported each time. Austria had one of its aircraft grounded on the tarmac of N'Djamena airport until the fee, plus a fine, had been paid. At the same time, Chad's embassy in Paris had its right to grant visas withdrawn, and visas now have to be approved at central level. Furthermore, President Idriss Déby is planning to halve the number of soldiers deployed in the framework of the UN force to take over from EUFOR on 16 March 2009 (MINURCAT II). The secretary-general of the United Nations wishes to put together a force with twice the number of soldiers as EUFOR, or 6500.
A number of explanations have been proffered for the attitude of President Déby, who is anxious to hold on to the power he has exercised single-handedly since December 1990. It could, first of all, be seen as posturing ahead of the negotiations due to open with the UN for the post-EUFOR phase and which may, amongst other things, lead to changes in the mandate of the future force deployed in Chad and the CAR (the other article). A second hypothesis looks for explanations in the possible resumption of fighting between the rebel and government forces expected in December - the increase in airport charges will lead to an increase in state revenue. Although no significant regrouping of the rebels has been observed at this stage, they continue in their attempts to provoke EUFOR, which is sticking to its strict neutrality. Chad's army is currently reinforcing its positions in the east of the country.
On Sunday 26 October, a French EUFOR patrol was attacked near the town of Moudeina by rebels of the UFCD (United Front for Democratic Change), which then accused EUFOR of trying to spy on them on behalf of the government forces. "Whether this was EUFOR or the dictator Déby's rabble of soldiers, the UFCD wishes strenuously and unambiguously to put them on their guard" and "stresses equally energetically that its DCAs are prepared to respond if this ever happens again", states the group's website (our translation). The same press release goes on to claim that on the day after the French patrol which, according to the UFCD, attempted to enter its zone of operations without announcing itself beforehand, unidentified Sukhoi aircraft bombed its positions. No bombing has been confirmed by the Chad army. According to military sources, the Su-25s recently purchased by the government are not yet operational. (A.By./trans.fl)