Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NDJAMENA551
2006-04-17 18:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:
CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTER CLARIFICATION ON REFUGEES
how-toVZCZCXRO5571 OO RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHROV DE RUEHNJ #0551 1071814 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 171814Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3553 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1145 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1294 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 2597 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1682 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1081 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0690 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0681
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000551
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTER CLARIFICATION ON REFUGEES
REF: NDJAMENA 541
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000551
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTER CLARIFICATION ON REFUGEES
REF: NDJAMENA 541
1. (SBU) In a meeting April 17 with the Ambassador
principally addressing political blockage in Chad (septel),
Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-mi provided clarification on
Chad's announcement April 15 (reftel) that the international
community had until the end of June to find a solution to the
conflict in Darfur, otherwise it would have to find other
countries to welcome the Darfur refugees.
2. (SBU) Allam-mi said that Chad had not meant to suggest
that the refugees would be expelled to Sudan. Chad would not
expel the refugees anywhere, but it might be necessary for
the international community to find other countries willing
to receive the refugees because it was becoming increasingly
difficult for Chad, unaided, to protect the refugees. It was
becoming difficult for Chad even to assure the security of
its own citizens along the border, who were now subject to
constant attacks by the janjaweed. It was possible that
Sudan's minions would attack the camps, in search of Sudanese
rebels. Tamas and Arabs in Darfur were being recruited to
combat the Zaghawas. With the increasing instability in the
area of the refugee camps, humanitarian workers had begun
leaving at the first sign of trouble. Chad had its
obligations in reference to the refugees, but the
international community also had its obligations. It was
essential rapidly to put a UN force on the border, but
initiatives by the UN were repeatedly undermined by the
attitude of the Chinese.
3. (SBU) The Ambassador asked whether the government
intended to make this clarification public, to which Allam-mi
gave no reply, except to say he was providing various
interlocutors with the same message. He said that the
government's announcement had been necessary to wake up the
international community, which had not grasped the gravity of
the peril facing Chad and the refugees. The Ambassador said
it was hardly appropriate to speak of inattention, when the
United States had provided millions of dollars worth of
assistance for the refugee camps and eastern Chad. Allam-mi
said that the issue was lack of understanding of the security
threat.
WALL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM CD SU
SUBJECT: CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTER CLARIFICATION ON REFUGEES
REF: NDJAMENA 541
1. (SBU) In a meeting April 17 with the Ambassador
principally addressing political blockage in Chad (septel),
Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-mi provided clarification on
Chad's announcement April 15 (reftel) that the international
community had until the end of June to find a solution to the
conflict in Darfur, otherwise it would have to find other
countries to welcome the Darfur refugees.
2. (SBU) Allam-mi said that Chad had not meant to suggest
that the refugees would be expelled to Sudan. Chad would not
expel the refugees anywhere, but it might be necessary for
the international community to find other countries willing
to receive the refugees because it was becoming increasingly
difficult for Chad, unaided, to protect the refugees. It was
becoming difficult for Chad even to assure the security of
its own citizens along the border, who were now subject to
constant attacks by the janjaweed. It was possible that
Sudan's minions would attack the camps, in search of Sudanese
rebels. Tamas and Arabs in Darfur were being recruited to
combat the Zaghawas. With the increasing instability in the
area of the refugee camps, humanitarian workers had begun
leaving at the first sign of trouble. Chad had its
obligations in reference to the refugees, but the
international community also had its obligations. It was
essential rapidly to put a UN force on the border, but
initiatives by the UN were repeatedly undermined by the
attitude of the Chinese.
3. (SBU) The Ambassador asked whether the government
intended to make this clarification public, to which Allam-mi
gave no reply, except to say he was providing various
interlocutors with the same message. He said that the
government's announcement had been necessary to wake up the
international community, which had not grasped the gravity of
the peril facing Chad and the refugees. The Ambassador said
it was hardly appropriate to speak of inattention, when the
United States had provided millions of dollars worth of
assistance for the refugee camps and eastern Chad. Allam-mi
said that the issue was lack of understanding of the security
threat.
WALL