CHAD: UPDATE ON EUFOR/MINURCAT IN CHAD

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000040 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSCR CD CT SU PREF PREL SUBJECT: CHAD: UPDATE ON EUFOR/MINURCAT IN CHAD REF: 07 NDJAMENA 942 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Chadian Foreign Minister Allam-mi told diplomats January 16 that Chad welcomed EUFOR/MINURCAT for the development dividend that the force was expected to bring and stressed that the force had "no hidden agenda to destabilize a neighbor." Although Allam-mi assured diplomats that Chad was fully in control of its eastern territory, it is generally assumed that Chadian rebels see a fast-closing window of opportunity, and will try to gain a foothold in Chad before the EUFOR deployment. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Preparations are moving forward for the deployment of the European Force (EUFOR)/UN Mission for Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) now that additional European contributions (including a sizable plus-up from France) have filled the logistical and resource gaps. On January 16 DCM attended a meeting hosted by Chadian Foreign Minister Allam-mi in which he announced that the Government of Chad was ready to sign the EUFOR agreement with the European Commission (represented by Germany as current EU President in Chad). ¶3. (U) Foreign Minister Allam-mi thanked France and the European partners for their support and promised to accelerate efforts to ensure EUFOR deployment. He stressed that the mission was strictly to provide security to refugees and internally displace persons (IDPs). EUFOR/MINURCAT had "no hidden agenda to destabilize a neighbor." Allam-mi insisted that Chad was in full control of the eastern region. Nonetheless, Chad had accepted EUFOR in order to accommodate the wishes of the international community and on the understanding that it would provide a kick-start for development in the east through building of roads, clinics, schools and wells. Allam-mi explained that the force would expire in one year and that Chad would do everything possible to demonstrate that it was master of the security situation so that there would be no follow-on UN force. ¶4. (U) Foreign Minister Allam-mi announced that the President's Counselor for International Relations, Youssef Saleh Abbas would be the GOC's Special Representative to EUFOR. An inter-ministerial coordinating body (French acronym CONIFAT) has been set up support and coordinate GOC actions on behalf of EUFOR. CONIFAT will include military, security, territorial administration, humanitarian assistance and development committees. Regional and sub-regional delegates will be stationed in 14 locations (for the most part co-located with EUFOR in eastern Chad) to oversee the "elaboration and execution" of development projects. The regional delegates also have broad authority to coordinate the international and national NGO's and international organizations on the ground. ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador and DCM met with OCHA Deputy Fatma Diouf and OCHA's new Civil/Military Liaison Officer Sophie-Marie Reck on January 17. Diouf acknowledged that CONIFAT was very much about demonstrating Chadian "sovereignty;" she hoped that it would not slow down work by adding another layer of bureaucracy. Reck explained that humanitarian workers were concerned about maintaining their neutrality and about the possible blurring of roles if the military started performing humanitarian work. (Note: A distinction is made between "development work," such as building wells and clinics, and "humanitarian", which is considered to be provision of live-saving services such as food and shelter. End note). Reck's job is to work with humanitarian actors and EUFOR so that roles and responsibilities are understood and maintained. She said that she had spoken with EUFOR head Nash and he fully respected the different spheres of action. According to Diouf, EUFOR deployment will start in Abeche and move south initially. Initial operating capability (IOC) is expected by end-February/beginning March. MINURCAT will deploy at least thirty days after EUFOR deployment. Comment: ¶6. (SBU) The three major Chadian rebel groups in Sudan announced shortly before Christmas via opposition web-site Al-Wihda that they had finally achieved a unified military command. It is generally believed that they will seek to establish a foothold in eastern Chad before the deployment of EUFOR/MINURCAT renders their advance more difficult. NIGRO