- The leaders of Chad and Sudan, Presidents Idriss Deby and Omar el-Bashir have again signed yet another agreement aimed at clearing the climate of mistrust and halting of five years of hostilities between the two neighbouring countries.
Deby and el-Bashir, who are attending the Islamic summit in Senegal, brokered the deal thanks to the mediation of the Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade.
Present at the signing of the Dakar agreement included the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Mon, President of Gabon, Omar Bongo Odimba and officials of EU, US, France and the Organisation of Islamic Conference.
After the landmark ceremony, President Deby said the signing of the sixth accord is "more important" than the previous ones Chad and Sudan had previously signed, assuring his government's commitment to bring about lasting peace.
Mr Deby said both countries have a common to refrain our territories as bases for rebels.
N'djamena and Khartoum agreed to establish a contact group tasked with following the successful implementation of the accord.
Among others, the group comprises the Foreign Ministers of Senegal, Gabon, Eritrea, Libya, Congo and the African Union. It is jointly chaired by Libya and Congo, and is expected to meet once a month in one of the member countries.
The two countries also agree to set up a peace and security force to ensure and monitor the joint operations aimed at securing their common border.
Both countries have been accusing each other of supporting rebel incursions aimed at overthrowing their government.
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