Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NDJAMENA1281
2006-10-30 13:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

CHAD GENERAL KILLED IN AMBUSH BY REBELS

Tags:  PREL PREF CD SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4100
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #1281 3031355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301355Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4519
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001281 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATHCERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD GENERAL KILLED IN AMBUSH BY REBELS


UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001281

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATHCERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD GENERAL KILLED IN AMBUSH BY REBELS



1. (SBU) Summary: A leading Chadian general died of his
wounds after being ambushed by the rebel group Union of
Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD). Government of
Chad reports of Sudanese bombing in Chad's north eastern
border region were contradicted by humanitarian groups on the
ground. End Summary.

Ambush in Hadjer Meram
--------------


2. (SBU) At approximately 05:30 local time on October 29 in
the town of Hadjer Meram, three columns of Chadian army
forces (ANT),led respectively by General Bahar Itno (cousin
of President Deby),General Moussa Sougui (an Embassy
contact) and General Allanga Hemchi, fell into an ambush of
the rebel group Union of Forces for Democracy and Development
(UFDD).


3. (SBU) As with most clashes between Government and rebel
forces, accurate numbers of casualties were virtually
impossible to ascertain. UFDD sources reported 215 Chadian
army (ANT) and 15 UFDD forces killed, while Chadian Defense
Minister Bichara Issa Djadallah asserted that 100 rebels and
only four ANT were killed. According to UNHCR N'Djamena,
later on October 29 ANT forces entered Kou Kou-Angarana,
south of the Goz Beida region in which the fighting occurred,
commandeered the ambulance operated by Cooperazione
Internazionale, the Italian NGO which administers the Goz
Beida Hospital, and attempted to transport wounded government
forces to the Goz Beida hospital. There are reportedly up to
40 ANT troops in Goz Beida hospital.


4. (SBU) Among the ANT forces lost was General Moussa Sougui,
the third highest-ranking general in the Chadian military.
UNHCR reported that Sougui was shot in the shoulder during
Hadjer Meram combat but was not critically wounded. However,
he suffered massive blood loss during the subsequent march
from Hadjer Meram to Goz Beida and died in the hospital
there.


5. (SBU) Humanitarian operations in the Goz Beida region
continue, although UNHCR notes that most organizations have
no additional security resources at their disposal were
continued or intensified conflict to emerge.

Government of Chad protests bombing of border towns
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) Earlier in the weekend, the Government of Chad has
accused Sudan of bombing the northern border towns of Bahai,
Tine, Kariari and Bamina. (Kariari was the site of the
National Redemption Front (NRF)/Government of Sudan clash
earlier in October.) However, humanitarian groups on the
ground in Bahai say that they have neither seen nor heard any
evidence of bombing.

Comment:
--------------


7. (SBU) On December 22,2005, General Sougui sustained
serious burns when his helicopter was shot down. He was a
popular and thoughtful leader, and it is expected that his
loss will be a serious blow to morale. UNHCR contacts
predicted that the GOC would have to contend with significant
morale loss and desertions within its military ranks in the
days ahead. Sougui's funeral October 30 in N'djamena was
widely attended and the funeral cortege disrupted regular
traffic for much of the morning. Eyewitnesses in Bahai
reported that the Sudanese rebels of the National Redemption
Front also held a ceremony there to mark his death, another
indication of the close relationship between the NRF and the
ANT.
WALL