Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA457
2008-09-16 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
FIFTH SUDAN-CHAD CONTACT GROUP MEETING: EDGING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000457
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD SU ER
SUBJECT: FIFTH SUDAN-CHAD CONTACT GROUP MEETING: EDGING
FORWARD
REF: A. NDJAMENA 413
B. ASMARA 454
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000457
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD SU ER
SUBJECT: FIFTH SUDAN-CHAD CONTACT GROUP MEETING: EDGING
FORWARD
REF: A. NDJAMENA 413
B. ASMARA 454
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: At the September 12 ministerial-level portion
of the fifth Sudan-Chad Contact Group (CG) meeting, the
foreign ministers of Sudan and Chad had agreed to re-open
their respective embassies and exchange ambassadors.
However, Chad's commitment to this course of action seemed
weak. The two governments and the other CG participants also
agreed to finance a $30 million command center to oversee the
observer force. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE)
hosted the three-day talks, September 10-12, and used the
occasion to bolster its reputation as a regional leader.
Despite initial confusion over the participation of
observers, post successfully attended all the meetings. End
Summary.
OFF TO A SLOW START
--------------
2. (C) Although the MFA had sent formal invitations and
registration forms to us and other Western embassies, and had
assured the DCM we were welcome because "no progress would be
made without the presence of the big powers," the message did
not trickle down to low-level MFA officials by opening day.
MFA protocol coordinators initially denied the existence of
the meetings, and then refused entry to the observers.
Within a few hours however, coordination among the MFA
elements had improved and protocol admitted the observers
(United States, United Kingdom, UN, EU, and France) into the
meetings.
CHAD RELUCTANT, SUDAN BOISTERIOUS
--------------
3. (C) The majoiy of Friday'sQmQnisterial meeting focused
on finalizing arrangements for the exchange of ambassadors
between Chad and Sudan. Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor
emphasized Sudan's readiness to proceed with the
reinstatement, saying several times "we informed our
ambassador to be ready to return at any moment." Chadian
Foreign Minister Moussa Mahamat, however, expressed deep
concern over re-opening embassies too soon, stating that
"there are many other issues to discuss first." He
additionally voiced concerns over Sudan's arming and
supporting of Chadian rebel groups. Deng Alor and other
delegates downplayed these concerns as off-topic. Libyan
Foreign Minister Abdurahaman Shalgam and the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) representative both heavily
pressured Chad to re-instate its ambassador to Sudan by
threatening to boycott any following Contact Group meetings.
The sixth CG meeting, scheduled to take place in Ndjamena, is
also contingent upon the successful exchange of ambassadors,
a task the CG assigned Libya and Gabon to oversee. Doubt
lingers, however, about Chad's commitment to following
through on the exchange of ambassadors.
4. (SBU) The Wednesday/Thursday expert-level meetings
produced a proposal for a $30 million command center to
oversee the observer force. Each participating country
(Chad, Sudan, Libya, Eritrea, Senegal, Democratic Republic of
Congo, and Gabon) agreed to finance the center with a
contribution of $4 million each; Libya agreed to provide the
remaining $2 million (ref A).
ERITREA'S AGENDA
--------------
5. (C) Eritrea has hosted a spate of regional conferences in
recent months, presumably with the intent of staking its
claim as a regional leader. The Eritrean Foreign Minister
made sure to include in the communique a line about the
participants acknowledging Eritrea's "efforts in the
promotion of peace and security in the region." No
participactc however, act a ly uttered such sentiments during
the meeting.
6. (C) COMMENT: Despite the pomp and circumstance surrounding
ASMARA 00000457 002 OF 002
the CG Meeting, the delegates accomplished few concrete
results. Although Libya and other delegations placed heavy
pressure on Chad to agree to the exchange of ambassadors,
Chad never committed unequivocally. Indeed, the tone Chad
set during the meeting indicated it is in no rush to
re-instate its ambassador or re-open the embassy. However,
the fact that the 6th meeting depends on this exchange may in
the end force Chad's hand.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/C
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD SU ER
SUBJECT: FIFTH SUDAN-CHAD CONTACT GROUP MEETING: EDGING
FORWARD
REF: A. NDJAMENA 413
B. ASMARA 454
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: At the September 12 ministerial-level portion
of the fifth Sudan-Chad Contact Group (CG) meeting, the
foreign ministers of Sudan and Chad had agreed to re-open
their respective embassies and exchange ambassadors.
However, Chad's commitment to this course of action seemed
weak. The two governments and the other CG participants also
agreed to finance a $30 million command center to oversee the
observer force. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE)
hosted the three-day talks, September 10-12, and used the
occasion to bolster its reputation as a regional leader.
Despite initial confusion over the participation of
observers, post successfully attended all the meetings. End
Summary.
OFF TO A SLOW START
--------------
2. (C) Although the MFA had sent formal invitations and
registration forms to us and other Western embassies, and had
assured the DCM we were welcome because "no progress would be
made without the presence of the big powers," the message did
not trickle down to low-level MFA officials by opening day.
MFA protocol coordinators initially denied the existence of
the meetings, and then refused entry to the observers.
Within a few hours however, coordination among the MFA
elements had improved and protocol admitted the observers
(United States, United Kingdom, UN, EU, and France) into the
meetings.
CHAD RELUCTANT, SUDAN BOISTERIOUS
--------------
3. (C) The majoiy of Friday'sQmQnisterial meeting focused
on finalizing arrangements for the exchange of ambassadors
between Chad and Sudan. Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor
emphasized Sudan's readiness to proceed with the
reinstatement, saying several times "we informed our
ambassador to be ready to return at any moment." Chadian
Foreign Minister Moussa Mahamat, however, expressed deep
concern over re-opening embassies too soon, stating that
"there are many other issues to discuss first." He
additionally voiced concerns over Sudan's arming and
supporting of Chadian rebel groups. Deng Alor and other
delegates downplayed these concerns as off-topic. Libyan
Foreign Minister Abdurahaman Shalgam and the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) representative both heavily
pressured Chad to re-instate its ambassador to Sudan by
threatening to boycott any following Contact Group meetings.
The sixth CG meeting, scheduled to take place in Ndjamena, is
also contingent upon the successful exchange of ambassadors,
a task the CG assigned Libya and Gabon to oversee. Doubt
lingers, however, about Chad's commitment to following
through on the exchange of ambassadors.
4. (SBU) The Wednesday/Thursday expert-level meetings
produced a proposal for a $30 million command center to
oversee the observer force. Each participating country
(Chad, Sudan, Libya, Eritrea, Senegal, Democratic Republic of
Congo, and Gabon) agreed to finance the center with a
contribution of $4 million each; Libya agreed to provide the
remaining $2 million (ref A).
ERITREA'S AGENDA
--------------
5. (C) Eritrea has hosted a spate of regional conferences in
recent months, presumably with the intent of staking its
claim as a regional leader. The Eritrean Foreign Minister
made sure to include in the communique a line about the
participants acknowledging Eritrea's "efforts in the
promotion of peace and security in the region." No
participactc however, act a ly uttered such sentiments during
the meeting.
6. (C) COMMENT: Despite the pomp and circumstance surrounding
ASMARA 00000457 002 OF 002
the CG Meeting, the delegates accomplished few concrete
results. Although Libya and other delegations placed heavy
pressure on Chad to agree to the exchange of ambassadors,
Chad never committed unequivocally. Indeed, the tone Chad
set during the meeting indicated it is in no rush to
re-instate its ambassador or re-open the embassy. However,
the fact that the 6th meeting depends on this exchange may in
the end force Chad's hand.
MCMULLEN