N'DJAMENA EAC

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