Chad Says 23 Soldiers Lost in Central African Republic

President Jacob Zuma, Chad's Idriss Deby Itno, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba and Congo's Denis Sassou Nguesso in N'Djamena during an Economic Community of Central African States summit. South Africa has been asked to redeploy its troops to the CAR., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Chad says 23 soldiers lost in Central African Republic

Xinhua | Agencies
Published on January 03, 2014 16:09

In the last two decades, Chad lost 23 soldiers in peace efforts in neighboring Central African Republic, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno said on Thursday.

"For the sake of Central African Republic, we gave our all, all the necessary material and financial means and we have also engaged our troops since 1995 to help our brothers to achieve peace," the president said during a visit to Chadians evacuated from Central African Republic.

Chad has deployed 800 soldiers under the auspices of the International Support Mission for Central African Republic (MISCA). For the past weeks, Chadian Muslims and soldiers have been targets of attacks by Christian militias in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic.

The Christian militias accuse the Chadians of supporting ex- Seleka rebels, mostly Muslims, who overthrew ex-president Francois Bozize in March 2013.

Following the increased incidents of violence in the Central African Republic, President Deby did not hide his "anger," noting that "Chadians did not deserve this kind of treatment."

On Tuesday, six Chadian soldiers killed in Bangui by the anti- Balaka militias were buried in N'Djamena.

"If Central African Republic's people are suffering, that is a different issue, but to attack with impunity a category of people from a country that is trying to help you appears to me as the highest level of ungratefulness," Deby said.

He vowed to ensure punishment for all those who have been attacking Chadians and those who continue to target Chadians.

For the past weeks, Chadian government has brought back 12,000 citizens from Central African Republic. Hundreds of others are expected to arrive soon in N'Djamena.

A fund-raising activity is scheduled to take place on Saturday in the Chadian capital to help the returnees.