UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000745

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, FOR DS, AF/EX, AF/C
AND M

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC CD
SUBJECT: N'DJAMENA EAC

REF: NDJAMENA 649


1. (U) U.S. Embassy N'djamena convened an EAC on May 24.
The EAC discussed the currently security environment in
N'djamena following the May 3 Chadian Presidential elections.
The EAC agreed that the situation continued to be stable and
reiterated recommendation (reftel) to lift Authorized
Departure on May 31. End Summary.


2. (U) U.S. Embassy convened an EAC on May 24. In attendance
were AMB, DCM, RSO, ECON/CON, IMO, POL/MIL, DAO, FSHP AND MO.
The EAC noted that the situation in N'djamena had not changed
since the last assessment (reftel) when it was reported that
the city had returned to normal. On May 14 The National
Electoral Commission announced that President Deby was the
victor in the May 3 elections. There have been no reports of
anti-foreign demonstrations or civil unrest in N'djamena or
other cities in Chad.


3. (U) The French school and the American School resumed
classes May 4 and May 9 respectively. The ExxonMobil-led oil
consortium has brought back its non-essential staff to
N'djamena. As of May 15, the UN agencies have also brought
back non-essential staff to N'djamena and to field operations
on Chad's Eastern border. The UN is at phase 3 security (as
it has been for most of 2005 and 2006) and will assess the
possibility of bringing families back at the end of the
school year. Other organizations, such as Catholic Relief
Services (CRS), World Vision and Africare have brought back
staff and families and resumed normal operations.


4. (SBU) EAC agreed that the assessment reported in reftel
still continues to apply to the security situation in Chad.
N'djamena is currently not affected by rebel movements in the
Southern and Eastern borders, some 900 kilometers from the
capital. Rebels will continue to make forays across the
border in Eastern and Southern Chad, probing Government of
Chad (GOC) defenses. However, the Chadian national army has
significantly beefed up its troops in the major towns along
the Sudan and Central African Republic (CAR) border. The
Chadians have also acquired two new helicopters. Sources
have reported that there are some 10,000 - 12,000 Chadian
security forces (including gendarmes and police) positioned
to repel any possible multiple-pronged incursion. The onset
of the rainy season in the south-eastern quarter of Chad has
rendered off-road travel difficult.


5. (SBU) Post reviewed tripwires and agreed that a rebel
incursion and seizure of a major town for more than 48 hours
would require an EAC to re-assess the security situation.


6. (U) Post reiterates recommendation reftel to lift
Authorized Departure on May 31.
WALL