MGCD01: UFDD/F'S ABOUD REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000249 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, S/E WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, AND AF/C E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS SU CD SUBJECT: MGCD01: UFDD/F'S ABOUD REQUESTS USG SUPPORT FOR PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION REF: KHARTOUM 00190 Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Please see action request para. 6. ¶2. (C) The United Force for Democracy and Development-Fondamentale (UFDD/F) is seeking a peaceful, democratic transition in N'djamena, a man claiming to be UFDD/F President Abdelwahid Aboud told Poloff during a February 20 phone call. Five minutes into a meeting with UFDD/F Commissioner for Political Affairs Moukhtar Yaya in Khartoum, Yaya suddenly called "Abdelwahid" on his mobile and handed the phone to Poloff to speak with him. Rebel leader Abdelwahid Aboud, who reported that he was in Eastern Chad, said that a meeting between the leadership of the UFDD/F, the UFDD, and the Rally of Forces for Change (RFC) is scheduled for the afternoon of February 20, during which he plans to propose that all three movements renounce violence and pursue "peaceful regime change." ¶3. (C) "Our priorities are peace, democracy, liberty, and equality," said Abdelwahid. "We want to depose Deby, not through war but through democratic means." He proposed the convocation of a "National Forum," consisting of major Chadian political elements and civil society, to select a transitional government for "two to three years" that will prepare the country for competitive elections. ¶4. (C) Acknowledging that he did not know the UFDD or the RFC's position on the renunciation of violence or the National Forum, he said that the UFDD/F is optimistic that the other rebel movements will accept his proposal and underscored that "we're ready for peace." Abdelwahid requested consistent contact with USG representatives and U.S. political support for his initiative. Poloff said that he would pass the message to Washington and Embassy N'djamena. ¶5. (C) In a subsequent discussion, Yaya explained that the UFDD/F is ready to negotiate with Deby "toward democracy, press freedom, and human rights." Sudan no longer backs the movement and the Khartoum regime has shifted all political and financial support to former Chadian Defense Minister Mahamet Nouri, alleged Yaya. The UFDD/F wants to prove to the U.S. that it is interested only in "peace and liberty" in order to garner USG support for the UFDD/F's democratic agenda. He requested that the U.S. provide a secure Thuraya to Abdelwahid so that he can communicate with USG officials without interception by the Sudanese intelligence services. ¶6. (C) Comment and Action Request: In a previous meeting with Poloff on February 6 (reftel),Yaya similarly proposed a National Forum and a transitional administration in Chad, as well as asserting that the UFDD/F only accepted Khartoum's patronage in the absence of support from secular countries in the West. However, in contrast to the earlier meeting, Yaya and "Abdelwahid" made a more explicit renunciation of violence on February 20. While Post is very suspicious and unable to verify the caller's identity, both he and Yaya seem to be credible representatives of the UFDD/F, and we request guidance on future contact, if any. Our overall sense is that Sudanese regime manipulation and infiltration of Chadian rebel groups (through NISS and SAF officers) is relatively high, if not always effective. End comment and action request. ¶7. (SBU) Contact information: "Abdelwahid Aboud:" 88 216 219 ¶04890. ¶8. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. FERNANDEZ