CHADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON REBELS AND DARFUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 001276

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF CD SD
SUBJECT: CHADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON REBELS AND DARFUR

REF: N'DJAMENA 1273

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


1. (C) Summary. In a 27 October meeting with the
Ambassador, Chadian Foreign Minister Allam-Mi contended that
Chadian rebels are an extension of the Sudanese government's
policy of destabilizing Chad. The Foreign Minister stated
that Chad favors an international peacekeeping force on
Sudan's side of the border, but fears that one on Chad's side
would become a target for Sudanese forces. Instead, in Chad
he favors a civil force from African and Islamic countries to
provide security for the refugee camps and to monitor the
border. The Ambassador assured Allam-MI that the United
States supports a peaceful resolution of disputes. End
summary.


2. (U) The Ambassador met with Chadian Foreign Minister
Ahmad Allam-Mi this morning (10/27) at the Foreign Minister's
request. The Foreign Minister appeared to be calling in all
Chiefs of Mission individually.


3. (C) The Foreign Minister discussed this week's Chadian
rebel incursion into central Chad and its relationship to the
Darfur conflict in neighboring Sudan. Allam-Mi noted that
the rebels had new equipment and vehicles and rhetorically
wondered about the origin of such materiel. He explained the
rebel's ability to penetrate into central Chad by noting that
Chad is "a vast country" whose borders cannot be completely
secured.


4. (C) Foreign Minister Allam-Mi continued with a
recitation of Chad's strides toward national reconciliation.
There have been presidential and parliamentary elections.
There was a national reconciliation conference. Opposition
parties are encouraged. There is a "beautiful constitution".
What is the rebels' objective, he asked, what could they
hope to change?


5. (C) The Foreign Minister continued, stating that the
Chadian rebels are an instrument of Sudanese policy meant to
destabilize Chad and to deflect world attention from Darfur.
He stated that the Chadian conflict would not end until the
Darfur conflict is resolved.


6. (C) In response to a question from the Ambassador,
Allam-Mi stated that the Chadian army could fortify Chad's
side of the border, but that Chad favors an international
peacekeeping force on the Sudanese side. This international
force is necessary to deflect the Janjaweed and to protect
refugees in Sudan, he insisted. On the Chadian side of the
border, he would like to see a civil force (such as
gendarmes) from African and Islamic countries brought in to
secure refugee camps and to monitor the frontier. He does
not want an international peacekeeping force on the Chadian
side because he is concerned that such a deployment would
give the Sudanese government an excuse to "internationalize"
the conflict, to broaden the fighting.


7. (C) The Ambassador assured the Foreign Minister that the
United States opposes the use of force by rebels in Chad, and
he urged all sides to resolve their differences peacefully.


8. (U) Tripoli minimized considered.
WALL