DISSIDENT GROUP FIGHTING NEAR BRIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGUI 000237 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/C FOR SSARDAR, MASHRAF, SLOPEZ, KWYCOFF; PARIS FOR RKANEDA; LONDON FOR PLORD; YAOUNDE FOR POL/ECON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR ECON EAID CT SUBJECT: DISSIDENT GROUP FIGHTING NEAR BRIA ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Fighting between CAR Government forces and unidentified rebel forces has broken out approximately 50km northwest of the town of Bria, in central CAR. Fatalities and casualties on the government side range from 4-8 deaths and several more wounded, with reports of some number of rebels wounded and several killed as well. The identity of the rebel group remains unknown, though speculation points either to members of the breakaway UFDR sect that attacked Sam Ouandja last month, and/or former disgruntled Chadian members of the Presidential Guard. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) According to a National Assembly Deputy representing Bria, Abdoulaye Tidjiane (PROTECT NAME),there was 1 dead and 4 wounded among government forces in fighting against an unknown rebel force approximately 50 km north of the town yesterday, December 9. Dep. Tidjiane said that the armed men had been in the area 'approx one month,' and that the location of the fight was near the village of Baidou. He could not identify the group, adding that it was not a known group, and said that there was some panic in the town of Bria, though only some of the town's citizens had left. ¶3. (SBU) Another source, the head of the U.S.-based NGO International Medical Corps, Dr. Guy Yogo (PROTECT NAME),whose NGO is working in the town of Bria, said that the fighting had been taking place for 3 days, and that there were 8 dead among government troops, along with 1 rebel commander dead whose body had been dumped in the town of Bria. He could not identify the rebel groups, but said that they had been working in the area previously, and that it was possibly a combination of several groups. He said that according to his team, only one road in Bria was open at present, the road from Bria to Ouadda, which led to/from the battlefield. He identified the battlefield as 'Ipendo,' approx 50km from Bria, which he said when asked was near the village of Baidou. (NOTE: Ipendo is the river near the village of Baidou, in the NW quadrant above Bria. END NOTE) Dr. Yogo speculated that these rebels may / may be the same group that attacked Sam Ouandja in the last month, and may / may be using the arms from that surprise attack in this current round of fighting. He said that few people had left the town, despite anxiety about the fighting. ¶4. (SBU) An Embassy contact within the security forces in Bria reports that FACA forces clashed with a group of rebels in the village of Gbaidou, 65 kilometers from Bria, on Saturday, December 6. FACA forces tactically drew back on Sunday, and returned and took control of the village on Monday, December 8. It is reported that 17 rebels were killed versus 1 FACA soldier whose body is currently being flown this afternoon by helicopter to Bangui. Four other FACA soldiers were wounded, one seriously. The contact said that many of these rebels are Chadian dissidents from President Bozize's Presidential Security Guards and are led by Colonel Hamat, (a Chadian who claims to be a Central African) and one of Bozize's liberators. Colonel Hamat and his brother Salle never really returned to Chad, but went into hiding in Birao and, playing on the recent inter-ethnic dispute between the Goula and Rounga ethnic groups, they were able to recruit some Rounga youngsters and established their based in the village of Ngbanguiri, 91 kilometers from Bria. FACA forces based in Bria were aware of this rebel presence and were keeping an eye on their movement. FACA forces enter into action on Saturday, December 6, when they got credible reports that these rebels were heading toward Bria, apparently to try and capture this important diamond city so that they can be in a strong position and be taken seriously in the ongoing political dialogue. ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador Francois Fall of BONUCA told the Ambassador that he heard reports of fighting yesterday. APRD deny involvement, pointing out that it is not their area. He is asking the other armed groups and promises to let us know what BANGUI 00000237 002 OF 002 he learns. COOK ##