MGCD01: CHAD MONITORING GROUP SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS STATE 010826 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD SUBJECT: MGCD01: CHAD MONITORING GROUP SITUATION REPORT NO. 3 FIGHTING IN N?DJAMENA AND AROUND EMBASSY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) ARTILLERY AND AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE EMBASSY AS FIGHTING BETWEEN CHADIAN MILITARY FORCES AND REBELS SPREAD INTO THE CAPITAL, EMBASSY N?DJAMENA REPORTS. COMBAT CONTINUES AROUND PRESIDENT DEBY?S PALACE, WHICH IS NEAR THE CHANCERY. THE SITUATION IN EASTERN CHAD REMAINED CALM, ALTHOUGH SOME AREAS ARE REPORTING INCREASED LAWLESSNESS. ¶2. (SBU) FRENCH MFA SOURCES REPORT DEBY LOYALISTS DEFECTED TO REBELS LED BY DEBY?S COUSIN, TIMAN ERDIMI, OF THE UDFF. THE AU IS DISCUSSING CHAD AT ITS SUMMIT; FRENCH SOURCES IN ADDIS ABABA EXPECT A STATEMENT THAT WOULD REINFORCE FRENCH GOALS OF GETTING DEBY TO LEAVE, AGREEING ON A TRANSITION ARRANGEMENT THAT WOULD GIVE THE GOVERNMENT SOME LEGITIMACY, AND PERMITTING EUFOR DEPLOYMENT. EMBASSY N?DJAMENA DRAWS DOWN, STAFF IN SAFE HAVEN -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) DS REPORTS NINETEEN NON-EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARRIVED IN YAOUNDE VIA U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT. TWENTY-FOUR USG EMPLOYEES REMAIN AT POST AND ARE HOLDING FAST IN THE CHANCERY AND AT TWO OTHER SAFE-HAVEN LOCATIONS, POST REPORTS. ¶4. (SBU) AN ADDITIONAL U.S. MILITARY PLANE IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN N?DJAMENA FEBRUARY 2 AFTERNOON TO EVACUATE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND PRIVATE AMERICANS AS REQUIRED. AMCITS SAFE, PARTICIPATING IN EVACUATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF AMERICAN CITIZEN CASUALTIES FROM THE FIGHTING, POST REPORTS. NO AMERICANS REQUESTED TRANSPORTATION ON THE FIRST U.S. MILITARY FLIGHT, ALTHOUGH SIX HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE EMBASSY TO COORDINATE EVACUATION. ¶6. (SBU) FRENCH AUTHORITIES INVITED THEIR CITIZENS, AMERICANS, AND OTHER FOREIGNERS TO CONGREGATE AT SIX GUARDED ASSEMBLY POINTS IN THE CITY. THE FRENCH HAVE NOT YET DECIDED TO EVACUATE, BUT HAVE SECURED THE AIRPORT; APPROXIMATELY 30 AMERICANS HAVE REPORTED TO THE FRENCH SAFE-HAVEN AREAS. RICE