Sudan’s leader Burhan visits Chad to boost ties

Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan travelled to neighbouring Chad on Sunday for talks aimed at cementing ties between the two countries, the state-run Suna news agency reported.

Gen Burhan and Chadian interim military leader Mahamat Idriss Déby met in N’Djamena and renewed their commitment to implement a 2018 bilateral agreement, the news agency said.

They also expressed their concern over communal violence in their countries and agreed to form a joint force to handle insecurity along their border.

Gen Burhan and Mr Déby also agreed to take the necessary steps to tackle irregular immigration and weapons smuggling.

They also agreed to bolster joint patrols along the tri-border area with the Central African Republic (CAR).

The border region has been the focus of intense manoeuvring in recent weeks involving forces loyal to Sudanese deputy military leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, CAR and Chadian rebels as well as the Russian Wagner mercenary group.