CHAD: RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST ON CT ACTIVITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000206 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: ASEC EAID MASS PTER CD SUBJECT: CHAD: RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST ON CT ACTIVITIES REF: STATE 18585 Classified By: Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Chad actively cooperates with the U.S. on counterterrorism activities and programs. Chad has been a consistent participant in the PSI and TSCTI programs, and remains the only TSCTP country to host a Joint Planning and Advisory Team (JPAT). Due to porous borders and lack of immigration control, Chad is a conduit of transnational terrorism; however, the threat of internal attacks remains low. The U.S. should exercise caution, however, in implementing U.S. CT programs in Chad in order to avoid being viewed as shoring up a corrupt, unpopular regime that holds on to power by questionable means. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Deby government continues to take significant action to support the global effort against terrorism. In 2006-7, members of the Chadian Army were trained as part of the Pan Sahel Initiative (PSI) and the Trans Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative (TSCTI). Chadian police and immigration officials participated in five Anti-terrorism Assistance training programs in 2006. The programs are designed to assist government officials in investigating terrorist and other criminal activities. Chadian officials credit USG ATA training as having been instrumental in their prompt reaction and handling of a Sudanese commercial aircraft that was hijacked to Chad in January 2007. In addition, a second Chadian TSCTP Infantry Company was trained in August 2006. Chad has fully cooperated with all USG requests for anti-terrorism assistance. ¶3. (SBU) There were no terrorist attacks in Chad against U.S. persons or interests. Since a noteworthy anti-terrorism activity in 2004, where Chad played a critical role in countering the Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC), evidence indicates that many of Chad,s CT-trained soldiers have been used to fight the Chadian rebels. ¶4. (C) Comment: The Government of Chad is very involved in counterterrorism activities. 600 military and civilian personnel, including security and law enforcement officers, have been trained in counterterrorism activities. Yet, most agree that the police and armed forces do not have anywhere near the capacity necessary to investigate suspected extremist/terrorist-related activity. More broadly, the security situation in Chad remains tenuous. There is massive disaffection with the Deby regime, where corruption is rampant and much of the oil revenue is funneled into buying weapons, equipment and technology to fight Chadian insurgents. Embassy believes that we must be sensitive to the conditions in the country and to the perception among many that U.S. CT programs shore up the Deby regime. WALL