GOVERNMENT OF CHAD EASTERN RELIEF EFFORTS - SMOKE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000438

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2010
TAGS: PHUM PREL KPKO REFPAN PGOV UN CD
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF CHAD EASTERN RELIEF EFFORTS - SMOKE,
LITTLE FIRE, BUT SOME PROMISE

REF: A. STATE 95572 B. KHARTOUM 1438

Classified By: CDA RGribbin for reasons 1.4 b&c


1. (C) The head of Chadian relief and multinational force
coordination for the east advised that his priorities
included smoothing the way for MINURCAT and EUFOR, plus
helping IDPs return home. He thought that rebel recruitment
in the camps would diminish as MINURCAT and Chadian policemen
deployed. He attributed eastern woes to Chadian rebels in the
first instance and Sudanese janjaweed in the second. If/when
tensions eased in Chad, more IDPs would leave the camps, even
though Sudanese refugees would be long term residents. He
accused Sudanese thieves of spiriting vehicles to Darfur for
re-sale. End summary.


2. (C) On September 23 Charge Gribbin called on Dr. Moctar
Moussa Mahamat, the President's Special Representative for
MINURCAT and EUFOR and chief of the Committee for the
National Coordination of Support for the Deployment
International Forces to Eastern Chad (CONAFIT). The mouthful
of a title notwithstanding, Dr. Mahamat said his principle
responsibility was to act as liasion between European and UN
forces and government officials, specifically with the
objective of easing the way and solving problems before/as
they arise. He said he established a solid working
relationship with the SRSG, EUFOR and MINURCAT force
commanders. CONAFIT had about seventy employees and
anticipated more, once the committee became regularly
inscribed in the national budget during the next fiscal year.
Mahamat said that CONAFIT was most helpful in meeting with
IDPs, local communities and traditional authorities in order
to improve communications and the flow of information about
safety in IDP producing regions. He added that CONAFIT never
urged IDPs to go home, but did assist in their assessments
and facilitated travel as it could for spontaneous returns.
He said that few people moved during the rainy season, but
feelers and envoys would go out after the rains. He opined
that people were anxious to go home when conditions would
permit.


3. (C) Asked about police deployments and efforts to restrict
rebel recruiting in refugee camps, Mahamat was firm in
stating that recruiting, particularly by JEM, was an ongoing
problem. He outlined the security plan for the camps, which
will have MINURCAT/Chadian police inside the camps and in a
10 kilometer perimeter around them. EUFOR had security
responsibilities beyond that zone. Once the police were
present, Dr. Mahamat expressed the conviction that
recruitment efforts could be curtailed. In turn, we
reiterated that illegal recruitment was an issue of USG
concern. We noted the necessity for the GOC to promulgate the
decree that would enable police deployments to occur. Mahamat
nodded.


4. (C) Discussing general insecurity in the east, Dr. Mahamat
blamed Chadian rebels for unrest and banditry, particularly
that which produced IDPs. He added that Sudanese janjaweed
raiding also contributed mightily to insecurity. Asked about
vehicle theft (arising from Khartoum reftel),Mahamat replied
angrily that Sudanese always accused Chadians of thefts in
Darfur whereas thefts in Chad, and resale with impunity in
Darfur, was a truer picture. He lamented that in olden days,
people only stole cattle.


5. (C) In closing Dr. Mahamat asked for USG aid in helping to
rebuild or develop anew the local infrastructure such as
wells, schools, clinics, etc. that would help induce IDPs to
return to their home villages.


6. (C) Comment. Dr. Mahamat and his committee are high
profile, especially in Ndjamena and Abeche. Their performance
in the field, however, does not yet match the rhetoric,
planning and understanding of the crucial issues evidenced by
headquarters personnel. SRSG Angelo characterized the
committee as "able to block, but not unblock," indicating
little real clout with GOC officials in the east as well as
the lethargic pace of moving the police decree through the
presidency. Even so, we judge that beyond being an Ndjamena
clearing house for multi-ministerial issues from the
international forces, Mahamat's focus on IDPs is well merited
and clearly an issue where Chadian leadership is essential.



GRIBBIN