CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDS ON GUANTANAMO CASE

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000876

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, FOR AF/C AND S/WCI
HARMS AND MUBANGU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL PTER CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDS ON GUANTANAMO CASE

REF: A. SECSTATE 70395

B. NDJAMENA 445


1. (SBU) Summary: President Deby has directed his Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to take steps to seek the liberation of
Chadian Guantanamo detainee Mohamed Algharani (aka Yousef
Abkir Salih Al Qarani). Department guidance requested (see
para 5). End summary.


2. (SBU) On November 5, Post received a response to our
diplomatic note on the Administrative Review Board (ARB) III
examination of the case of an alleged Chadian national
currently under DOD control at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The
diplomatic note confirms that Mohamed Algharani (given as
Yousef Abkir Salih Al Qarani in reftel A) is a Chadian
citizen. The note requests the Embassy to intercede with the
competent authorities in the United States to obtain his
liberation. Note: President Deby's decision to seek
Algharani's release appears to have been prompted by the
visit of members of the UK-based "Reprieve" organization who
met with high ranking Chadian officials on the case. End
note.


3. (SBU) Embassy translation of diplomatic note follows:

Begin text:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chad
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States
of AMERICA in N'Djamena and has the honor to acknowledge
receipt of its note number 148, dated May 24, 2007 concerning
the detention of Chadian citizen Mr. Mohamed Algharani in the
prison camp of Guantanamo.

The Ministry confirms the Chadian nationality of Mr. Mohamed
Algharani and accordingly requests the Embassy of the United
States to please intercede with the competent authorities in
the United States to obtain his release as soon as possible.
Certain relevant documents are attached.

In thanking the Embassy of the United States for its kind
attention, the Minister of Foreign Affairs takes this
opportunity to renew the assurances of his highest
consideration.

End text.


4. (SBU) The attached documents include:

-- a copy of the fact sheet (in French and Arabic) produced
by the British NGO "Reprieve" on "Mohammed El Gharani,
juvenile prisoner and Chadian citizen in Guantanamo;"

-- An internal report prepared for President Deby on the
meeting between Zakary Katz Nelson, Legislative Director of
Reprieve (identified in the report as an American lawyer) and
the Deputy Director of the President's Civil Cabinet, Mahamat
Saleh Adoum. In the report to the President, Adoum confirms
that Algharani is a Chadian citizen whose parents reside in
Medina. Adoum notes that "our country cannot avoid its
obligations towards citizens under arbitrary detention
abroad...the continued detention of a compatriot for motives
decidedly lacking in glory is assuredly a major handicap in
our continued efforts to improve our country's image in the
world." He suggests that "the President..order the government
to undertake the necessary demarches to obtain his
repatriation."

-- The handwritten response of President Deby on the note
states: "Undertake demarches to obtain his liberation."

ACTION REQUEST


5. Department guidance requested on next steps.
TAMLYN