Articles on Chad, Africa & Thinking Responses

Chad: Filling the Judicial Gap in Eastern Region Article
Summary: The UN peacekeeping mission and the legal fraternity in Chad are joining together to make judiciary professionals in eastern Chad. They are giving a one-month training course that provides basic legal skills and a general introduction to the judicial system in Chad, to civil servants. Before, local level administrators, court clerks, and bailiffs had limited or no prior legal training in Chad, but it is expected that 148 local magistrates will be trained by June 2010.
Thinking: When I read this article I was confused when it said that Chad’s local level administrators, court clerks, and bailiffs barely had any legal training. Without any legal training, how could everyone in the legal system be on the same page? I wondered how the legal system worked, while being fair, if courts in one part of the country enforced the laws more, than other courts in the country. When I read this I was immediately grateful for how our judicial branch is set up and how everyone in judicial branch has been trained to work in our government system. I think that this program well be very good for Chad because it will help make their legal system more fair. Before, when their people in the legal system barley had any training, there was no way they were going to have a fair legal system, when nobody knew the laws. However, with this new program I think that Chad’s legal system will become more fair, and on the same page.

Darfur Crisis Draws Chad and Sudan toward Deeper Conflict Article
Summary: Chad is accusing Sudan of arming rebels on the on the Sudan-Chad border, and a war has broken out between the two countries. Sudan rebel groups are stung out along the border between the two countries, and Chad fears that a pro-Sudanese government could seize power in its capital, Ndjamena. Most of the battles have been fought in Darfur, and about 200,000 refugees have fled into the border line and at least 200,000 people have died. Chad says that it’s not interested in harming a single refugee in Darfur, but that they are only interested in changing the political system in their country.
Thinking: I think that this war is really affecting both of the countries a lot because so many people are dying or fleeing from their country. In Darfur, where arms are like sticks on the ground, it just shows you how violent this war really is and how many people are getting hurt in it. I wonder why Sudan would give arms to rebel groups and put them on the border when they knew that it was going to upset the people in Chad. The people in Chad had no choice, but to fight back because they couldn’t allow Sudan to just take over their country. This is similar to the war in Iraq, where hundreds of soldiers are fighting everyday. Many people have lost their lives or have fled from Iraq because of the war. This is a lot like the war between Chad and Sudan because so many people are fleeing or getting hurt just like in Iraq. This also reminds me of the war in Iraq because during the whole war Iraq is trying to change its government system just like how Chad is trying to change their government system.

Chad Says Rebel Attack Defeated Article
Summary: Sudan rebels were sent over the border into Chad to attack, despite a truce between the two countries. Chadian troops were able to defeat the attack in the volatile east. The estimated number of rebel vehicles ranged from 50 to 200, and there has been no word of any casualties on either side. All major towns were under control, and the rebels failed to gain any territory in Chad.
Thinking: This reminds me of the bombings in London because just like in Chad, people were coming into the country to attack you. The Sudan rebels reminded me a lot of the bombers in London because they were coming in the country to attack, just like the bombers were coming into London. I wonder how the Chadian troops were able to defeat the rebels with out causing too much panic to the country. The rebels had between 50 and 200 vehicles, and I think that it was pretty impressive for the Chadian troops to stop all of them with out causing too much damage to the people around them. I wonder what the people in Chad were thinking when they saw the Sudan rebels. I wonder if they were afraid that the rebels would take over their town, and gain territory in Chad. It confused me how a lot of people in Chad were pretty calm after the attack. If rebels came into my town to take control over our territory I would be very scared and in a panic. So, I confused when the article said that most the towns were calm and under control.