(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz today brokered an agreement of reconciliation between Sudan and Chad. President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan and President Idriss Deby of Chad signed the agreement at King Abdullah’s ranch in Janadriyah, outside Riyadh.

President Al-Bashir and President Deby agreed to political, economic and social cooperation between the two countries and respect each other’s sovereignty and integrity, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs or harbor opposition groups. They also agreed to support international efforts by the African Union and United Nations to stabilize the Darfur region of Sudan and neighboring border areas in eastern Chad.

Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir said, “This agreement represents a significant step in bringing stability and peace to the war torn region of Darfur.

The two presidents, who were invited to Saudi Arabia by King Abdullah, held talks at the Royal ranch in Janadriyah. King Abdullah congratulated President Al-Bashir and President Deby on the agreement and hosted a luncheon in their honor.

The Sudanese-Chadian agreement follows an understanding reached at the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Riyadh on March 29 between Sudan, the United Nations and the African Union to increase the number of UN forces deployed in Darfur. The March 29 decision was the outcome of a meeting hosted by King Abdullah between Sudanese President Al-Bashir, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa and Chairperson of the African Union Alpha Oumar Konaré to discuss the situation in Darfur.