CHAD CHRONICLE: Oct 13-17

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000481 SIPDIS PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF, AF/C, AF/EPS, AND AF/RSA ADDIS ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF ECON PHUM UN LY CT CD SUBJECT: CHAD CHRONICLE: Oct 13-17 -------------- UN DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT DEBY -------------- ¶1. MR. ALAIN LE ROY, UN DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR PEACKEEPING OPRTATIONS, MET WITH PRESIDENT DEBY ON OCTOBER 14. SPEAKING TO THE PRESS AFTER THE MEETING, MR. LE ROY DECLARED THAT THE AIM OF HIS VISIT WAS TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE MINURCAT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER FROM EUFOR ON MARCH 15, 2009. HE COMMENDED THE CHADIAN AUTHORITIES FOR COOPERATION WITH THE EUFOR DURING ITS MISSION. AFTER CHAD, THE UN DELEGATION WILL VISIT SUDAN. -------------- -------------- AU DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRESIDENT DEBY -------------- -------------- ¶2. AN AFRICAN UNION DELEGATION LED BY FORMER PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI, PIERRE BUYOYA, MET WITH PRESIDENT DEBY ON OCTOBER 15. AFTER THE MEETING, MR. BUYOYA TOLD REPORTERS THAT HIS DELEGATION WAS SENT BY THE AU'S PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE CHAD-SUDAN CONFLICT AND ASSESS THE EFFORTS MADE SO FAR TO RESOLVE IT. HE SAID THAT HIS DELEGATION HAS "REITERATED THE AU'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE PEACE BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES" HE ADDED THAT THAT NOTHING CAN BE ACHIEVED IN AFRICA WITHOUT PEACE. -------------- -------------- PRESIDENT DEBY TRAVELS TO QUEBEC (CANADA) -------------- -------------- ¶3. PRESIDENT DEBY LEFT NDJAMENA ON OCTOBER 16 FOR QUEBEC, CANADA, WHERE HE WILL ATTEND THE 12TH SUMMIT OF THE "FRANCOPHONIE" MOVEMENT SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON OCTOBER -------------- STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE -------------- ¶4. DISCONTENTED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THREW STONES AT VEHICLES DURING THE WEEK AND THREATENED MORE SUCH DISTURBANCES IF THEIR OVERDUE STIPENDS ARE NOT PAID. THEY ARE ALSO AGITATING FOR THE RELEASE OF FIVE ARRESTED STUDENTS, INCLUDING FOUR GIRLS. -------------- BUILDING SPREE -------------- ¶5. PRESIDENT DEBY AND PRIME MINISTER ABBAS EACH LAID CORNER STONES FOR NEW PROJECTS IN NDJAMENA. DEBY INAGURATED CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW UNIVERISTY CAMPUS AT TOUKROU, ABOUT TEN MILES FROM THE CITY CENTER. DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 4,000 STUDENTS BY 2012, THE CAMPUS PROJECT, WHICH IS TOTALLY FINANCED BY THE GOC, IS EVIDENCE OF OIL MONEY BEING SPENT ON SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE PRESIDENT ALSO LAID A CORNER STONE FOR A CHINESE FINANCED FIVE STAR HOTEL, WHILE THE PRIME MINISTER BEGAN THE NEW SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS. MEANWHILE, DRAINAGE WORKS AND PAVING OF SOME OF NDJAMENA'S RESIDENTIAL STREETS RESUMED AFTER A SEVEN MONTH HIATUS DUE TO LAST FEBRUARY'S CONFLICT. -------------- CHILDREN SAVED -------------- ¶6. A GOOD SAMARITAN SPIRITED TWO ELEVEN YEAR OLD BOYS AWAY FROM THE ABUSIVE MASTER OF A KORANIC SCHOOL IN MASSAGUET, ABOUT FIFTY MILES FROM NDJAMENA. A PHOTO OF THE TWO CHILDREN, ONE STILL WEARING LEG IRONS CLAMPED ON HIM AT THE SCHOOL, WAS PUBLISHED BY LE PROGRES NEWSPAPER. AUTHORITIES ARE CARING FOR THE KIDS AND SEEKING TO REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES. MEANWHILE THE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE ABUSIVE MASTER WITH INTENT TO PROSECUTE. GRIBBIN