CHAD: AMCIT DETAINED NEAR LIBYAN BORDER

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000798

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, FOR AF/C AND CA/OCS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: AMCIT DETAINED NEAR LIBYAN BORDER


1. (U) The Embassy was notified on Sunday, October 14, that
American citizen Stephen Godbolt had been detained since
October 12 in the town of Zoumri by ten members of the Chad
rebel group MDJT. The rebels belong to a small MDJT faction
that has not accepted the terms of recent peace agreements
with the Government of Chad (GOC). Zoumri is approximately
60 kilometers from Bardai, Chad's northernmost city, and
close to the Libyan border. Godbolt was en route to Bardai
with Tubu acquaintances who are implementing a
U.S.-Department of Defense funded well project. Godbolt has
lived and worked in the Tibesti region of Chad for many
years, is well known in the Chadian Tubu community (the
dominant group in the Tibesti) and speaks Teda. He is a
member of a missionary group called TEAM (The Evangelical
Alliance Mission). Godbolt was traveling with the required
GOC "Authorization to Circulate" and a valid Chad visa.


2. (SBU) According to Godbolt's TEAM colleagues in
N'Djamena, Godbolt is being well taken care of and there are
no immediate concerns for his well-being. They themselves
are not sure why Godbolt was seized but believe that it may
have been at the behest of MDJT leader Choua Dazi, currently
resident in Libya. They speculated that Dazi may be acting
under the influence of Libyan President Ghaddafi who objects
to westerners in the Tibesti region. Absent any communication
from the MDJT rebels, or from the GOC concerning the
detention, no one can speak authoritatively as to why Godbold
has been detained. While local GOC authorities in the
Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti (BET) region are aware of the incident,
we do not know if N'Djamena authorities have been informed.



3. (SBU) For the time being, missionary colleagues are
activating various networks of influential Tubus to exert
pressure on the MDJT to release Godbolt. TEAM may eventually
bring in a contract crisis management specialist to handle
the situation. They made clear that they would not pay any
ransom. Press queries from BBC and Radio France International
have been directed to TEAM.


4. (SBU) Post is in regular contact with TEAM to monitor the
situation. While they are not worried about Godbolt's
immediate situation, they are concerned that - consistent
with local cultural norms -- the negotiation process may be
quite long and drawn-out.


5. (U) Please note that Godbolt has not signed a privacy act
waiver. All information reported above was provided by his
TEAM and other missionary colleagues.


6. Minimized considered.
TAMLYN