Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NDJAMENA104
2007-02-02 14:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

CHAD: Inter-ethnic Fighting in Guereda

Tags:  MOPS PGOV PHUM PREF PREL CD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHNJ #0104 0331436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021436Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4892
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000104 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM PREF PREL CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: Inter-ethnic Fighting in Guereda


UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000104

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM PREF PREL CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: Inter-ethnic Fighting in Guereda



1. (SBU) While Humanitarian workers report that
fighting in around Adre subsided last night after some
200 houses in different villages were burned and 120
civilian and combatant wounded hospitalized, the
situation around Guereda remains tense. Some 30 rebels
are reported dead in fighting between former FUC
(United Front for Change) rebels of the Tama tribe and
the primarily Zaghawa militias of the RAFD (Rally of
Democratic Forces). The RAFD denies any involvement in
the clashes, while the FUC alleges that the Chadian
army was "complicit" in the militia attacks. The
Chadian government has dismissed FUC charges describing
the fighting as inter-communal and noting that the
murder by FUC members January 29 of five Zaghawa men at
a market in the area may have precipitated a revenge
attack by militia.


2. (U) Note: The GOC signed a peace agreement with FUC
leader Mahamat Nour in December ending fighting with
that group. The FUC unsuccessfully attacked N'Djamena
in April 2006 suffering heavy losses. There have been
no reported incidents of fighting since the signing.
End note.


3. (SBU) The famine-early-warning NGO (FEWSNET)
described the growing Zaghawa-Tama ethnic tension and
clashes in the Guereda and Iriba (Biltine Department)
areas as intense and of increasing concern to
humanitarian agencies operating there. At the
Kounoungou camp, a refugee and a soldier of the FUC
were killed on January 23 and on the night of 31
January, a Tama family violently attacked a Zaghawa
family at Am Zouer. Yesterday's fighting around
Guereda left 33 wounded FUC soldiers at Guereda
hospital, according to a FUC commander. NGO workers at
Guereda report ten to 15 wounded per day being admitted
to the hospital.


4. (SBU) According to a UNHCR worker in Guereda, the
threat of Zaghawa militia attacking Guereda is very
real. Noting that, "we have always been wary of this,"
the worker commented that the FUC are in defensive
positions around the city. He added that the fighting
in Adre could also result in ANT forces in Guereda
joining the fight there and thus leaving Zaghawa and
Tama militias to battle it out.


5. (SBU) Humanitarian agencies based in Iriba report
that only a few days of food remain for distributions
at the Am Nabak camp located at 45 kilometers from
Guereda. CARE, UNHCR and WFP note that Am Nabak
distributions could be disrupted because of the
security situation. MSF/France has evacuated its
personnel from Adre.

6. (SBU) Comment: The Tama and Zaghawa groups have
long been rivals. The Tama have gone so far as to ally
themselves with Arab clans and participate in Janjaweed
attacks in Sudan against the Zaghawa. The December
peace deal between Deby and the predominantly Tama FUC
of Mahamat Nour may not be a reliable basis of
stability, certainly as long as local anti-Deby Zaghawa
rebels continue to reject it. End comment.

7. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.
Wall