Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NDJAMENA69
2008-02-01 12:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:
SITREP 4: CHAD SITUATION AT 1330 ON 1 FEBRUARY
how-toVZCZCXRO7197 OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV DE RUEHNJ #0069 0321213 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011213Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6045 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0989 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0895 RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 1471 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY PRIORITY 3039 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0159 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 1649 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUSNNOT/SOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000069
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OPS, AF/C, DS, CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR CASC MOPS SU PINS ASEC CD
SUBJECT: SITREP 4: CHAD SITUATION AT 1330 ON 1 FEBRUARY
REF: NDJAMENA 67 AND PREVIOUS
-----------------
GENERAL SITUATION
-----------------
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000069
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OPS, AF/C, DS, CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR CASC MOPS SU PINS ASEC CD
SUBJECT: SITREP 4: CHAD SITUATION AT 1330 ON 1 FEBRUARY
REF: NDJAMENA 67 AND PREVIOUS
--------------
GENERAL SITUATION
--------------
1. (SBU) N'djamena is still tense but calm. Agence France
Presse (AFP) reports that fighting has broken out near
Massaguet, 60-90 miles NE of the capital. A few hundred
Chadian riot police and various armored tanks have been seen
moving about the city. Chadian military aircraft have left
the airport. There are a number of heavily armed vehicles in
front of the presidential palace. Embassy Officers are in
close contact with their diplomatic (French, Egyptian,
Chinese) and UN counterparts.
--------------
EAC MTG at 1000
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador convened a meeting of the Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on February 1 at 1000 local time to
receive update on assessments of the current security
environment and review tripwires for Authorized Departure
status. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting
included: AMB, A/DCM, DATT, POL/ECON, RSO, CONS, IPC, and
POL/MIL. EAC decided: (a) to keep all mission personnel at
concentrated locations and prohibit travel (b) to approve
updated tripwires (see para 3).
3. (SBU) The EAC agreed that the result of any military
engagement between rebels and government forces will be an
important factor to consider when determining if any one of
the tripwires have been reached. The EAC agreed that as of
1000 local time, no tripwires have been reached.
--------------
TRIPWIRES FOR AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE
--------------
-- Indications that the Government is unable to ensure order
in the city and surrounding environment.
-- Indications that prolonged uncertainty requires continued
extreme stand fast posture for EFMs.
-- Indications that French/EU move to equivalent of
authorized departure.
-- Inability to support operations because of lack of
communications, food, electrical power, fuel, water, etc.
NB: The result of any military engagement will be decisive:
-- If government wins a major battle, situation will
remain/return to normal.
-- If rebels win a major battle, situation will deteriorate,
at least in the short term.
--------------
MISSION POSTURE
--------------
4. (SBU) All Embassy Community personnel remain in
consolidated positions. The Embassy has staged work crews
available and active in facilities, computer support,
security, health and other services at both the Chancery and
the American compounds. Power and utilities, except cell
phones, appear to be functioning normally. An updated warden
message will be released to the American Community advising
of the situation in the city and USG security arrangements,
as per "no double standards" policy. We will also reconvene a
EAC at 1600 local time.
NIGRO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OPS, AF/C, DS, CA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR CASC MOPS SU PINS ASEC CD
SUBJECT: SITREP 4: CHAD SITUATION AT 1330 ON 1 FEBRUARY
REF: NDJAMENA 67 AND PREVIOUS
--------------
GENERAL SITUATION
--------------
1. (SBU) N'djamena is still tense but calm. Agence France
Presse (AFP) reports that fighting has broken out near
Massaguet, 60-90 miles NE of the capital. A few hundred
Chadian riot police and various armored tanks have been seen
moving about the city. Chadian military aircraft have left
the airport. There are a number of heavily armed vehicles in
front of the presidential palace. Embassy Officers are in
close contact with their diplomatic (French, Egyptian,
Chinese) and UN counterparts.
--------------
EAC MTG at 1000
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador convened a meeting of the Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on February 1 at 1000 local time to
receive update on assessments of the current security
environment and review tripwires for Authorized Departure
status. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting
included: AMB, A/DCM, DATT, POL/ECON, RSO, CONS, IPC, and
POL/MIL. EAC decided: (a) to keep all mission personnel at
concentrated locations and prohibit travel (b) to approve
updated tripwires (see para 3).
3. (SBU) The EAC agreed that the result of any military
engagement between rebels and government forces will be an
important factor to consider when determining if any one of
the tripwires have been reached. The EAC agreed that as of
1000 local time, no tripwires have been reached.
--------------
TRIPWIRES FOR AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE
--------------
-- Indications that the Government is unable to ensure order
in the city and surrounding environment.
-- Indications that prolonged uncertainty requires continued
extreme stand fast posture for EFMs.
-- Indications that French/EU move to equivalent of
authorized departure.
-- Inability to support operations because of lack of
communications, food, electrical power, fuel, water, etc.
NB: The result of any military engagement will be decisive:
-- If government wins a major battle, situation will
remain/return to normal.
-- If rebels win a major battle, situation will deteriorate,
at least in the short term.
--------------
MISSION POSTURE
--------------
4. (SBU) All Embassy Community personnel remain in
consolidated positions. The Embassy has staged work crews
available and active in facilities, computer support,
security, health and other services at both the Chancery and
the American compounds. Power and utilities, except cell
phones, appear to be functioning normally. An updated warden
message will be released to the American Community advising
of the situation in the city and USG security arrangements,
as per "no double standards" policy. We will also reconvene a
EAC at 1600 local time.
NIGRO