Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NDJAMENA385
2007-05-07 14:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:
JEM LEADER ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER CONFLICT
how-toVZCZCXRO7730 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHNJ #0385 1271454 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071454Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5244 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000385
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2009
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CD SU
SUBJECT: JEM LEADER ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER CONFLICT
REF: RIYADH 943
Classified By: Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000385
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2009
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CD SU
SUBJECT: JEM LEADER ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER CONFLICT
REF: RIYADH 943
Classified By: Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) More fighting on the Chad-Sudan border is likely as
both countries move to implement the agreement reached in
Riyadh to stop supporting rebel groups aimed at each other,
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Chairman Khalil Ibrahim
told the Ambassador and Poloff May 5. Khalil expected
Khartoum soon to begin expelling Chadian rebels based on
Sudanese territory. Once they reenter Chad, he predicted,
they will be forced into clashes with Chadian army troops.
2. (C) Khalil anticipated that Khartoum would make this
move because Riyadh expects agreements it brokers to be
respected and because Khartoum takes very seriously Riyadh's
wishes. As for his own plans, Khalil said he is waiting to
hear from Chadian authorities, but believes he too would be
forced to leave Chad as N'Djamena fulfills its end of the
bargain made in Riyadh.
3. (C) Khalil said efforts to facilitate an understanding
between President Idriss Deby Itno and Timan Erdimi, Deby's
cousin and leader of one of the main Chadian rebel factions,
have failed. Khalil, who has been involved in promoting
these efforts in the past, noted that some of those around
Erdimi were prepared to negotiate terms with Deby. Erdimi
himself, he observed, is making implacable political demands.
Khalil did not see much possibility of Deby and Erdimi
finding common ground now.
4. (C) Comment: Many others here have also been
anticipating a new outbreak of fighting between Chadian
rebels and government forces in eastern Chad before the start
of the rainy season soon. The scenario Khalil has in mind
recalls what happened last September when Chad and Sudan
agreed to stop supporting rebel forces on their territory.
The expulsion of the Chadian rebel forces from Sudan
precipitated several months of bloody clashes on the
Chad-Sudan border. Sudanese rebel groups in eastern Chad --
now often referred to as "toro boro" -- appear much more
numerous than at that time. The Deby regime also appears
even more dependent on their support. It would be even
harder now for Chadian authorities to implement any
commitments to expel Sudanese forces from eastern Chad.
WALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2009
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CD SU
SUBJECT: JEM LEADER ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER CONFLICT
REF: RIYADH 943
Classified By: Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) More fighting on the Chad-Sudan border is likely as
both countries move to implement the agreement reached in
Riyadh to stop supporting rebel groups aimed at each other,
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Chairman Khalil Ibrahim
told the Ambassador and Poloff May 5. Khalil expected
Khartoum soon to begin expelling Chadian rebels based on
Sudanese territory. Once they reenter Chad, he predicted,
they will be forced into clashes with Chadian army troops.
2. (C) Khalil anticipated that Khartoum would make this
move because Riyadh expects agreements it brokers to be
respected and because Khartoum takes very seriously Riyadh's
wishes. As for his own plans, Khalil said he is waiting to
hear from Chadian authorities, but believes he too would be
forced to leave Chad as N'Djamena fulfills its end of the
bargain made in Riyadh.
3. (C) Khalil said efforts to facilitate an understanding
between President Idriss Deby Itno and Timan Erdimi, Deby's
cousin and leader of one of the main Chadian rebel factions,
have failed. Khalil, who has been involved in promoting
these efforts in the past, noted that some of those around
Erdimi were prepared to negotiate terms with Deby. Erdimi
himself, he observed, is making implacable political demands.
Khalil did not see much possibility of Deby and Erdimi
finding common ground now.
4. (C) Comment: Many others here have also been
anticipating a new outbreak of fighting between Chadian
rebels and government forces in eastern Chad before the start
of the rainy season soon. The scenario Khalil has in mind
recalls what happened last September when Chad and Sudan
agreed to stop supporting rebel forces on their territory.
The expulsion of the Chadian rebel forces from Sudan
precipitated several months of bloody clashes on the
Chad-Sudan border. Sudanese rebel groups in eastern Chad --
now often referred to as "toro boro" -- appear much more
numerous than at that time. The Deby regime also appears
even more dependent on their support. It would be even
harder now for Chadian authorities to implement any
commitments to expel Sudanese forces from eastern Chad.
WALL