CHAD: GOVERNMENT SURVIVES FIGHTING IN NDJAMENA

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000535 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, INR, DRL, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA; LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICAWATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC MOPS CH SUBJECT: CHAD: GOVERNMENT SURVIVES FIGHTING IN NDJAMENA REF: NDJAMENA 530 ¶1. (U) Rebels reached the northeastern and eastern sections of Ndjamena during the night, and fighting erupted at dawn and lasted throughout the morning April 13, with the Chadian armed forces beating them back. Ndjamena has been quiet ever since, except for sporadic gunfire to the east. Embassy personnel continue in consolidated mode, with 29 expected to fly out in authorized-departure status on Air France tonight. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The French account on April 12 of "80 percent" destruction of the rebel force coming from the southeast toward Ndjamena (reftel) proved to be premature when dawn broke in Ndjamena to the persistent sounds of gunfire and mortar rounds in the predominantly Muslim northeastern suburbs of the city, spreading eventually to the eastern suburbs. TDY personnel at the 12-story Libyan-owned Kempinski Hotel, located in the heart of the area of gunfire (the only important hotel in Ndjamena so isolated from the main part of town),were able to monitor the fighting, which lasted until 11:00. The nearby National Assembly building appeared to be a particular focus. ¶3. (U) Skirmishes came southward as far as the Great Mosque and Market, a mile and a half from the Embassy. Fighting did not penetrate into the northwestern and western sections of the city along the Chari River, where the American Embassy and Residence, the French Embassy and Residence, Presidential Palace, airport and French military base, most government buildings and banks, the principal shopping areas, other hotels, and all Embassy residences are located. We have not been able to ascertain the collateral damage to civilians from so much gunfire. Some light and occasionally heavy gunfire has continued to be heard in eastern suburbs, consistent with unsubstantiated reports that the Chadian armed forces are hunting down pockets of rebels inside neighborhoods. ¶4. (SBU) President Deby has claimed victory over the rebels in Ndjamena. However, fighting took place during the day on the Sudanese border at Adre, with thus far inconclusive results, and we have an unsubstantiated report of fighting in Sarh, in the South. The French Ambassador reported to Ambassador Wall that some "60 percent" of the rebels captured in Ndjamena were Sudanese. Other Chadian sources suggest even higher percentages (to include many "Sudanese" of Chadian origin),with claims of proof that vehicles and arms came from Sudan. ¶5. (U) Esso now has only six core staff present in Ndjamena. The remainder who have not been evacuated from the country have consolidated with the Kome base camp in southern Chad. The UN chartered a WFP aircraft to take out non-essential and family members to Douala. The French School was closed for the day and the French community is in standfast mode. ¶6. (U) As of nightfall, all Embassy personnel are accounted for and consolidated in the Embassy chancery grounds or the Embassy residential compound. TDY personnel in the Kempinski Hotel are secure. Embassy is in authorized-departure status. Twenty-nine Embassy personnel (family members and non-essential) are expected to depart at 21:00 on an Air France flight. As the airport and compounds are on the western side of town, where there have been no security incidents, access to the airport should not present a problem. For the past week, the 29 Peace Corps Volunteers were fortuitously together for in-service training at the tranquil resort of Douguia 45 miles north of Ndjamena on the Chari River border with Cameroon. They will be ferried across the river tomorrow and taken to Garoua in northern Cameroon. ¶7. (U) With the virtual cessation of gunfire after 11:00 a.m., Ndjamena became very quiet, with almost no vehicular traffic other than armed-forces transport (soldiers prominently displaying red armbands in an effort to distinguish themselves from rebels) and very little movement of pedestrians. Cellular telephone connectivity was inexplicably maintained for most of the day, in contrast to the normal pattern of cutting cellular contact in times of trouble. WALL