§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning incursions made by Islamist mercenaries from Chad into(a) Sudan and (b) Nigeria; and what representations he will be making to the Government of Chad concerning these incursions. [106421]
§ Mr. RammellThere are persistent reports of fighting in Darfur, Western Sudan, involving tribes and groups from Chad and Libya. Recent unconfirmed reports allege that Chadian mercenaries were involved in the attack against Al-Tinah on the Sudan/Chad border. Chad has closed the border with Sudan and deployed troops there to uphold the security agreement signed between Sudan and Chad.
The Nigerian police regularly report on the presence of substantial numbers of Chadians among those arrested in violent conflicts in Northern Nigeria.
It is for the Governments of Sudan and Nigeria, rather than the British Government, to make representations to the Government of Chad on these matters.