CHAD: UFDD, UFDD/F REITERATE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000640 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG, AND AF/C NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU PARIS FOR KANEDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV SU CD SUBJECT: CHAD: UFDD, UFDD/F REITERATE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE PROCESS REF: A. LIBREVILLE 176 ¶B. KHARTOUM 637 Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) In an April 24 conversation with Poloff, representatives of Mahamet Nouri's Union des Forces du Developpement et de la Democratie (UFDD) and Abdelwahid Aboud Makaye's UFDD/Fondamentale welcomed the increased international engagement on the Chadian conflict evident during the April 10 Contact Group meeting in Libreville, Gabon (Ref. A). Brahim Djidda, Nouri's envoy in Khartoum, characterized the GABON meeting "as a real process." He suggested, however, that the Chad-Sudan dialogue should be conducted in parallel to inter-Chadian negotiations. ¶2. (C) Djidda called on the U.S. to energize efforts to construct a true political process among the Chadian Government, the rebel movements, and the opposition political parties. "We don't want to take power by force," said Djidda. "We want negotiations. But there has been too much manipulation from France, Libya, and others." He and UFDD/F representative Mokhtar Yaya said that the rebels have delayed a renewed offensive in the hope that the U.S. will sponsor constructive negotiations. ¶3. (C) Though characterizing Deby's government as "delinquent," Djidda said that Deby will not need to abrogate all power. He suggested instead that a power-sharing deal is possible based on an "amendment" to the 1996 constitution that could be ratified by the National Assembly after a six-month interim period to prepare for elections. Yaya claimed that Deby could even remain president if he accepted more limited--and clearly delineated--powers. ¶4. (C) Both Djidda and Yaya dismissed the recent appointment of Prime Minister Youssouf Saleh Abbas, referring to a statement by Nouri on the Internet that "it is a non-event." They called Abbas "a tool of Deby" who lacks independence and power and deemed his appointment a "partial solution." "We need a global solution for all Chadians that involves the political parties, the movements, and the international community," said Djidda. ¶5. (C) They similarly dismissed rumors that the Chadian rebel movements are "Al Qaeda, Islamists, or terrorists," calling these allegations "French lies on behalf of Idriss." They acknowledged that much of Chad shared cultural ties to Sudan--including language and religion--but Djidda asserted that the "Sudan program in Chad is totally different from our program--we need political change in N'djamena to help our people." FERNANDEZ