SUDAN/CHAD: SOME FIGHTING IN BORDER AREA; MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000936 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS MASS CD AU SU SUBJECT: SUDAN/CHAD: SOME FIGHTING IN BORDER AREA; MORE CHADIAN REBELS RETURN TO DARFUR Classified By: Political Officer Ron Capps for resons 1.4 b and d. -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Some small-scale attacks took place along the Chad-Sudan border on April 16 and 17, perhaps by Sudanese Arab militias. Chadian rebels surrounding Adre returned to Sudan on April 17, apparently to rearm. The SAF is moving large quantities of what appear to be weapons, uniforms, and ammunition to El Geneina. FUC and SCUD are in negotiations. One source says the Chadian military has deployed troops and artillery along the border. The rebels may be preparing for further military action. End Summary. -------------- Janjaweit Profit from Power Vacuum -------------- ¶2. (C) UN Security officers in West Darfur reported that Arab militias (their reporting uses the term Janjaweit) attacked villages in Eastern Chad near Goz Beida and Goz Amir on April ¶17. Attacks were reported on the villages of Tissi and Koloye by what the UN security officers called "non-Chadian" forces. -------------- More Chadian Rebels Return to Sudan -------------- ¶3. (C) UN and NGO sources working in Eastern Chad reported that Chadian rebel groups which remained outside of Adre until April 16 returned to Sudan on April 17. The NGO sources said the rebels were camped near Wadi Sala and Habila. ¶4. (C) An AMIS source reported that multiple Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aircraft flew in and out of El Geneina airport between April 15 and 17. At least one of the aircraft was an Antonov cargo aircraft from which SAF troops unloaded a number of wooden crates that required eight soldiers each to carry into large military trucks. The operation was supervised by a platoon of SAF soldiers. The acting Wali was also present at the airport during this operation. Local sources told AMIS that the trucks moved south out of El Geneina towards Habila. Another SAF aircraft unloaded bags of uniforms. -------------- SCUD to Join the Fray? -------------- ¶5. (C) NGO and local sources reported that fighters aligned with the United Front for Change (FUC) had met with the leaders of the Zaghawa dissident group known as SCUD in an attempt to rally the SCUD to join the fray. -------------- Chadian Preparations? -------------- ¶6. (C) One NGO source reported that the Chadian army had deployed artillery and additional troops around Adre and along the border. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) All signs here are that the Chadian rebels are preparing for further military action. Continued instability in eastern Chad could easily spread to Western and Northern Darfur States. The Sudanese Arab militia raids on villages in eastern Chad are probably just opportunistic banditry, but if they spread to Darfur, they will certainly draw a response from the Sudanese rebels. Should the SCUD enter the fray, inter-clan fighting within the Zaghawa could threaten numerous villages, refugee and IDP camps on both sides of the border. STEINFELD