CHAD: AU CHAIRMANSHIP VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000064 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2012 TAGS: PREL CD SUBJECT: CHAD: AU CHAIRMANSHIP VOTE REF: STATE 8022 Classified By: Ambassador Marc Wall for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In the absence of Foreign Minister Allam-mi, who has already departed for the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa, the Ambassador raised U.S. concerns in ref over the AU Chairmanship elections with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Djidda Moussa Outman on January 24. Outman stressed several times that in Chad's view Sudanese President Bashir cannot be elected AU Chairman. He argued that as long as the conflict in Darfur remains unresolved, Chad will continue to oppose Bashir's election. ¶2. (C) Comment: Chadian authorities continue to charge Sudan with supporting the Chadian armed rebellion. They will be staunch opponents in Addis of efforts to elect Bashir as AU Chairman. End Comment. WALL