THE FIRST 30 DAYS: CHAD'S NEW "GOVERNMENT OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000248 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS; STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN, AF/C, AF/SPG, AF/EPS, AND AF/RSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM EFIN ECON SU LY CD SUBJECT: THE FIRST 30 DAYS: CHAD'S NEW "GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION" AFTER ONE MONTH IN OFFICE REF: NDJAMENA 165 NDJAMENA 00000248 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In its first month in office, Prime Minister Youssouf Saleh Abbas's new "government of National reconciliation" has brought key former opposition figures into the cabinet; welcomed the reformed opposition coalition back to participation in the electoral reform process; seen the Commission investigating the February "events" begin its work; and taken definite steps toward restoring press freedom. The new cabinet also undertook to address Chad's troubled relations with International Financial Institutions; pursued with some success "intra-Chadian diplomacy" aimed at attracting armed rebels back into Chad to rejoin the political process; and employed more traditional diplomatic methods to reduce tensions between Chad and Sudan by reacting moderately to Sudanese provocation after the attack on Omdurman and by participating in the Dakar Accord implementation process. End Summary. -------------- The New PM and His Program -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Youssouf Saleh Abbas, known as "YSA" in the Chadian media, and who the "Economist" of London has called, "an Easterner who at least talks the talk of ending Chad's lethal culture of impunity," took office about a month ago. YSA, who came to power claiming to have greater autonomy and scope for action than President Deby had ever before granted a Prime Minister, named a cabinet that included former opposition leaders in important ministries -- Defense, Justice, and Agriculture, and Urbanization -- and adopted a program of "national reconciliation" that includes electoral reform, good governance, press freedom; and promises to reduce corruption, official impunity, and indiscipline on the part of security forces. He also is publicly committed to better relations with Sudan through implementation of the Dakar Accord and to talks with armed rebel groups to bring them back into the Chadian political process. -------------- Restoring Press Freedom -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The new government has taken measures to restore press freedom, abridged even before the February attacks, and tightened by decree after the attacks. YSA did an interview with what looked like the entire capital press corps on May 14, answering questions on all issues and from all quarters. He admitted that the State had acted high-handedly but defended the government's right to require journalists to respect the Chadian code of Journalism and to report and analyze responsibly. He promised that there would be action soon on the two pre-attack cases of government pressure on independent media, the closing of "Radio FM Liberte" and the detention of the editor of the weekly publication, "Notre Temps." ¶4. (SBU) On May 27, the High Commission on Communications (HCC) announced that "Radio FM Liberte" was free to resume broadcasting and on May 26 the legal case against the "Notre Temps" editor was nullified by the court. The logical next step would be for the government and parliament to declare the post-attack executive order - ordinance number five that restricts press freedom as an emergency measure -- null and void. The Communications Minister has told us that this is already in the works. The Prime Minister personally convoked the director of USG-funded INTERNEWS training project for journalists to thank her for the ongoing program and encourage her in her efforts to professionalize Chad's journalists. -------------- -- The Opposition Reorganizes and Redefines Itself -------------- -- ¶5. (SBU) The opposition coalition CPDC (Coordination of the Political Parties of the Democratic Opposition) reorganized NDJAMENA 00000248 002.2 OF 002 itself on May 28, retaining the disappeared Ibni Oumar Saleh Mahamat as "Spokesman," its top position, and adding Saleh Kebabo as Deputy Spokesman, retaining former key members Lol Mahamat Choua and Salibou Garba, while addition Ali Gabriel Golhor and Jean Baptiste Laoukole to replace Saleh Makki, who was named to the President's personal staff. The CPDC also resisted attempts by the four former CPDC members who joined the cabinet to retain their membership in the CPDC and who claimed to "represent" the CPDC inside the government. -------------- And Rejoins the Electoral Reform Process -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The CPDC returned to participation in the Comite de Suivi (monitoring committee) on May 12 and the first plenary session was held on June 4. At the plenary, the president, Lol Mahamat Choua, highlighted key priorities for the Comite de Suivi, including reinforcing the capacity of political parties and civil society and engaging in consultations for the composition of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI),a critical step for legislative elections anticipated for next year. Choua stressed in his remarks the need to work quickly to accomplish what had been agreed to in the 13 August Accords. -------------- Investigating the February "Events" -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Commission d'Enquete (Investigative Commission) has been organized and is functioning reasonably well, according to the French and EU, both of which have provided legal experts to assist the Commission's work. The Commission has interviewed hundreds of government officials, local officials, community leaders and ordinary citizens. It has held open sessions and closed ones, according to the circumstances. Its director has given press interviews to publicize the Commission's aims and progress. -------------- Traditional Diplomacy -------------- ¶8. (SBU) YSA's government is publicly committed to better relations with Sudan through implementation of the Dakar Accords. New Foreign Minister Fakki attended the Tripoli meeting of the contact group to implement the Dakar Accords and traveled to Cairo and Algiers to pled Chad's case. The GOC reacted moderately to Sudan's provocation after the JEM attack on Khartoum, which it condemned. -------------- "Intra-Chadian" Diplomacy -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The new government has publicly and privately offered to talk "anywhere, anytime," to armed rebel groups in an attempt to convince them to renounce violence and return to Chad to enter the domestic political arena. The GOC continues to be successful in attracting various armed rebel groups to do just that. YSA has welcomed several small former rebel groups back to Chad and met with them to discuss their return to the political process. The once-formidable Zaghawa-dominated RFC rebel group led by the Erdimi brothers, has seen its effectiveness erode through defections to the GOC. -------------- International Financial Institutions -------------- ¶10. (SBU) YSA has also privately disclosed plans to address Chad's troubled relations with the World Bank and IMF. He has pledged to travel to Washington in early July to try to maintain full World Bank and IMF cooperation with Chad. NIGRO