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