Sudan-Chad open?
 

Hello
there are rumours that western Darfour (border Chad Sudan) is open again for tourists. Anybody knows for sure?
Thank you!
Beat

Check out the Sub-saharan section on this board as well, there are some additional threads dealing with the same topic.

Let me know if you find out anything definitive,

hed

I think the border between Chad and Sudan is open as long as you have visa. The thing to do is apply for a visa with an airline ticket and get it refunded afterwards (like I did in march this year). The thing is: do you want to travel through a warzone (West-Sudan) that's quite hot at the moment?

The news I have from Khartoum is that the whole Darfur region is still sealed off, foreigners will definitely not get a travel permit to go that way. However I've no idea what would happen if you turn up at the border coming from Chad. Note, that the areas with the most intense fighting have been right along the Chad border, it may well be that the border itself is not under government control. Even if officially the border is open, I'd consider it far too risky to try that route at the moment.

------------------
Happy Travels,
Andras

FJ Expeditions

Just read that the SPLA/M has extended a ceasefire with the governmnet in Darfur region for 1 month. Does not say anything about banditry, could mean that the border is opened again, but don't bank on it.

hed

Since the main problem in the Darfur area is more banditry then a govt./SPLA thing, I wouldn't bet on a ceasefire helping much...

Erik D.

www.dunia.no

------------------

Hi there,
I think that the situation in Dafur is referred to as banditry because the sudan govt unwilling to admit that there is a political problem in the area The DLF (now SLM) is supossedly separate from the SPLA (so the ceasefire is irrelevant)
We met sudanese in Chad that thought we would be fine as the "rebels" had only a problem with the govt. We couldnt get visas but i think if you have the visas go for it (it is rumoured that the sudan border officials are very friendly)
Have a look at www.sudan.net (however the press releases from both sides seem wildly inaccurate) Good luck
Bo

Hey Bo, remember we mailed briefly about possibility of you entering DRC in your truck. Did you ever make it across to teh East and if so where. Where r u now ?

hed

Here is the latest news from West Sudan/Darfur region and also some clarity regarding the ceasefire and SLM/SPLA connection.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?R...on=East_Africa

hed

Here is another report on Western Sudan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3258863.stm

Also a link to a report on security concerns in Khartoum leading to US Embassy shutting for a week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3258453.stm

live from Khartoum ...
some say you can go to darfur and Chad, most say you can't. for the sheer mental exercise (not well-being!) I asked for permission to go and was told to complete xyz forms, wait 2 weeks and then almost certainly be told "no". local recommendation is to skip it so I'm off to Egypt.

-----
as i left Khartoum yesterday, i met a german archaeologist who had permits to go to north of darfur and into chad. so, its possible, but he said it took ages and he has been ferreting about in the desert for the last 20 years.


[This message has been edited by RichLees (edited 14 November 2003).]

[This message has been edited by RichLees (edited 16 November 2003).]