FOLLWONG DEFEATS, SAF MAY COUNTERATTACK IN NORTH DARFUR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002519 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS AU SU SUBJECT: FOLLWONG DEFEATS, SAF MAY COUNTERATTACK IN NORTH DARFUR REF: KHARTOUM 2469 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Military confrontations along the Chad-Sudan border continue, as reports and troop movements indicate that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) may imminently launch a counterattack against Justice and Equality (JEM)/National Redemption Front (NRF) rebels near Tina. The SAF suffered a defeat there on October 7 and have already retaliated by bombing the village of Hamara, in Chad, on October 10. -------------- SAF Responds to Defeat on Border -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On October 7, either JEM or JEM-led NRF elements under the authority of Abdallah Banda attacked SAF positions near Tina (reftel). The SAF claims the vehicles used in the attack bore Chadian registration numbers. AMIS confirms that the SAF responded by carrying out Antonov bombing raids targeting the village of Hamara, Chad. The UN and AMIS also report continued SAF aerial reconnaissance in the vicinity of Tina and the local SAF commander requested that AMIS inform him of the peacekeepers' movements in order to avoid inadvertent targeting by SAF attack helicopter or Antonov bombers. ¶3. (SBU) Reporting from both the UN and AMIS also suggests that rebels may be preparing to attack SAF and AMIS forces positioned near the town. AMIS reinforced its military group site at Tina with one platoon on October 9 as a precaution. -------------- SAF Continues to Bring Forces to Tina -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Government troops continue to reposition and reinforce in the vicinity of Tina. UN contacts noted to Active Response Corps (ARC) Officer that 17 SAF vehicles moved from Girgira to Tina on October 11, while roughly 150 vehicles controlled by Chadian opposition groups remained in position between the villages of Sirba and Silea, with the likelihood the convoy would move to Tina in support of SAF. Additional reports indicate that Chadian opposition groups received up to 200 barrels of fuel from the GoS. HUME