SAUDIS SKEPTICAL ABOUT SUDANESE INTERFERENCE IN

S E C R E T RIYADH 000153 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF SU SA CH SUBJECT: SAUDIS SKEPTICAL ABOUT SUDANESE INTERFERENCE IN CHAD REF: SECSTATE 10951 Classified By: CDA Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Charge d'Affaires Gfoeller met with Prince Dr. Turki bin Mohammed, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on February 4 and presented demarche points per REFTEL. The CDA also presented a letter of condolence to the Ministry following the death of two Saudi nationals in an explosion at the Saudi Embassy in N'Djamena earlier this week. Prince Turki expressed skepticism regarding demarche points and requested additional evidence from Washington. ¶2. (S) According to Prince Turki, the Sudanese have denied interfering in Chad. The Prince said that it is "unacceptable for a rebel force to take over a legitimate government," but added that his government could not accuse the Sudanese of playing a destructive role in Chad without some additional evidence. ¶3. (S) The Prince said that the Ministry is continuing its evacuation efforts for remaining Saudi employees and family members in N'Djamena and expressed frustration over what he called France's puzzling failure to act against the rebels earlier in the conflict. The Prince lamented the instability in the region, from Chad through Kenya. He noted that while there is much potential in Africa, corruption remains a cancerous infliction that undermines development and stability. He also noted his concern for humanitarian aid workers in the region. GFOELLER