CHADIAN REBELS PULL BACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 001268

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, USEUCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: ASEC MOPS PREL CD
SUBJECT: CHADIAN REBELS PULL BACK

REF: N'DJAMENA 1259

Classified By: PolOff John O'Leary. Reasons 1.5 (c) and (d)


1. (U) There were no reported rebel advances today (10/25).
Rumors have the rebels located anywhere within the Chari
Baguimi district (11,00 N; 17,00 E),as well as near Mongo
(12,11 N; 18,42 E) and Am Timan (11,02 N; 20,17 E),from 200
to 400 KM from N,Djamena. Embassy sources, including a
well-connected Goran (ethnicity of one of the major rebel
factions),stated that rebels began pulling back from Am
Timan toward Sudan last night.


2. (C) According to DAO sources, Chadian air assets
support by French air reconnaissance have hit rebels forces
near Abou Deia (11,27 N; 19,17 E); and the rebels are
withdrawing. According to these sources, the Chadians are
pursuing with troops from Mongo and are moving troops from
Ade (12,40 N; 21,54 E) toward Goz Beida to block the rebel
retreat. (Comment. Source emphasized that the Chadian army
does not want to fight in Goz Beida due to the proximity of
the refugee camp. End comment.) The French Ambassador
basically confirmed the DAO report in a conversion with
Ambassador Wall this morning. The French Ambassador added
that French aircraft would fire on the rebels the next time
the rebels fired a surface-to-air missile at them.


3. (U) Rebel leader Mouhammed Noori said on Radio France
International this morning that the rebels do not plan to
attack N,djamena for the moment. He called for "national
dialogue" between the rebels and President Deby,s government
and for free and transparent elections.


4. (U) Sources are now telling Embassy that fighting in
Iriba (15,07 N; 22,15 E) reported reftel was an inter-ethnic
clash rather than a rebel incursion.


5. (U) N,Djamena is quiet and traffic is light. Many
workers and vendors appear to have stayed home today,
ignoring government calls to continue normal routines. Tanks
and APCs are still positioned around town but were moved back
to more "discreet" locations.


6. (U) There are numerous reports that firearms have been
issued to civilians within N,Djamena, whether by the
government to its adherents or by local ethnic or
neighborhood groups to defend against looters. There have
been reports of single and automatic weapon shots throughout
the day, probably recipients testing weapons as they receive
them.


7. (U) The Embassy is functioning normally, and the
International and French schools are open. NGOs in Goz Beida
are pulling their expatriate staff to Abeche to "regroup".
The UN and World Bank are limiting operations.


8. (C) Comment. The rebel movement into central Chad has
embarrassed the GOC and President Deby and has raised doubts
about the government,s ability to control Chadian territory.
Absent a crushing defeat at the hands of the Chadian
National Army, the rebels have achieved a victory, even if
they retreat to the safety of Darfur. End comment.


9. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.
WALL