CHAD: FRENCH OFFER FEW COMMENTS ON UNSUCCESSFUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2016
TAGS: PREL CD FR
SUBJECT: CHAD: FRENCH OFFER FEW COMMENTS ON UNSUCCESSFUL
COUP

REF: NDJAMENA 418

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: French response to the thwarted coup
attempt in Chad, both from the GOF and in the press, has been
muted. Isabelle Guisnel (deputy to the DAS-equivalent for
West Africa at the MFA) said that France remained vigilant
but that the attempted coup had produced little visible
disruption in Ndjamena. The MFA gave an anodyne response to
a question on Chad in its March 15 briefing (para 5),and
press reporting has been sparse. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The March 14-15 unsuccessful coup in Chad (reftel)
has not generated a strong response in France, at least on
this "day after." Isabelle Guisnel, who is the deputy to
DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher at the MFA, said
on March 16 that France remained vigilant and was concerned
about this attempt but that it appeared that normal daily
life in Ndjamena had not been affected. She referred to
reports she had received from France's Embassy in Chad that
were consistent with information contained in reftel.
Guisnel noted that there were often rumors, some credible and
some not, of coup plots in Chad. This case was obviously a
serious one but the Deby government had intervened in a
successful manner. She said that the GOF would continue to
follow the situation in Chad closely, expressing her own
willingness to stay in contact with us concerning
developments.


3. (SBU) Initial press reporting in the major Paris dailies
has been minimal, with Liberation and Le Figaro on March 16
running short (respectively, one and two paragraphs) on the
fact of the attempt but without analysis.


4. (C) COMMENT: While the attempted coup is likely to
generate additional official and press commentary, we are
struck by the relatively low-key French response in its
immediate aftermath, especially given the strong French
concerns, frequently expressed to the USG, about the
stability of the Deby regime and the lack of a credible
alternative to Deby. This relative silence may represent
relief that something worse did not happen. END COMMENT.


5. (U) The MFA on March 15 responded to a question on Chad
during its daily briefing. Embassy informal translation of
the exchange follows:

-- QUESTION: An attempted coup d'etat against Chad
President Idriss Deby Itno took place during the night of
Tuesday-Wednesday in Ndjamena, led by security forces. What
details do you have on the perpetrators of the coup and on
the manner in which it took place? What is your reaction?

-- ANSWER: We have in effect been informed by Chadian
authorities that an attempted coup d'etat took place
yesterday in Ndjamena.

-- We are following the situation with the greatest
vigilance, especially in view of the fact that Chad is
dealing with a difficult situation relating to the crisis in
Darfur.

-- I recall to you our principle of condemning all attempts
to seize power through non-democratic means, notably by the
use of force.



Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton