CHAD: NO PROGRESS ON DETAINED AMCIT

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000807 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PGOV PTER PREL CD LY SUBJECT: CHAD: NO PROGRESS ON DETAINED AMCIT REF: NDJAMENA 798 ¶1. (SBU) No progress has been made in the more than five days of contacts between members of the Chadian Tubu community and the MDJT rebel group currently holding Amcit Steve Godbolt in Zoumri, northern Chad. The local Radio France International (RFI) reporter had agreed to temporarily hold off on releasing the story at the request of Godbolt's colleagues in N'Djamena in order to let these discussions run their course. However, we understand that RFI will break the story today. ¶2. (U) The incident has received no press coverage locally. A posting on the Paris-based Chadian opposition website Al-Wihda (widely read throughout N'Djamena) from the FLST (Libyan Front for the Promotion of the Libyan Tubus) states that an American (not named) had been seized by Libyan intelligence agents with the support of the MDJT, headed by Choua Dazi. The FLST release states that the American had defended the cause of the oppressed Libyan Tubus, and for this reason had been the target of the Libyan authorities. ¶2. (SBU) Godbolt's colleagues in N'Djamena reported to CDA that the Libya-based MDJT leader Choua Dazi has insisted that he will only talk to "Americans" concerning the detention. (Note: They have heard this second-hand through the Tubu acquaintances who have attempted to intervene on behalf of Godbolt. End note) ¶3. (SBU) Post will send a diplomatic note to the Government of Chad alerting them to the situation and asking for their assistance in seeking the release of Godbolt. We note that the Government of Chad has historically had a small administrative presence (and weak authority) throughout much of the MDJT-dominated Tibesti region. ¶4. Minimized considered. TAMLYN