FRANCE/CHAD: STORM HAS BLOWN OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007025 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM CD FR SUBJECT: FRANCE/CHAD: STORM HAS BLOWN OVER REF: HOTR 25172Z Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt. Reas ons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) Bruno Foucher, MFA AF DAS-Equivalent assured Africa Watcher late October 25 that the rebel attacks near Mongo had petered out and the rebels were dispersing -- some headed toward the southern border with the Central African Republic, others toward the north. Foucher, who leaves in November to become the next French Ambassador in Chad, described the situation as under control, a view he said was shared by Chadian President Deby. Foucher derided the decision by Exxon/Mobil to order dependents to leave as "over the top." ¶2. (C) Foucher said the assault on Mongo was organized by four minor rebel groups in association with Mahamat Nouri. He did not understand the motive for the incursion into Mongo, which he said had been brief and had not caused significant damage. Chadian military forces, with helicopters, had attempted to counter-attack this morning, he said, but he did not have an update on the skirmish. Whatever the damages sustained or not, the rebel column had pulled back before dispersing. (Note: DATT reports reftel information provided by the French military that the rebel elements that had broken off to the north have since regrouped with those heading southward.) ¶3. (C) Helene Le Gal, MFA AF DAS-Equivalent who covers the Horn, including Darfur but minus Chad, concurred with Foucher's assessment during a separate October 25 conversation with Africa Watcher. She volunteered that the last two days had been dicey. The rebel firing of a surface to air missile against French aircraft was a very disturbing development, she judged. The Sudanese military was almost certainly the supplier. She observed that the clashes had thus far not triggered bellicose exchanges between N'djamena and Khartoum, preserving the cosmetic truce that has held since August. ¶4. (C) Presidential African Affairs Counselor Michel de Bonnecorse stressed on October 20 to U.S. Ambassador to Chad Marc Wall, who was transiting Paris on his return to post, that French forces will scrupulously abide by their policy of not opening fire on any Chadian nationals, including rebels (septel). Bonnecorse admitted he had refused appeals for robust French intervention from Deby and certain African heads of states during the April assault against N'djamena. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON