TFCDO1: CHAD TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 4

UNCLAS STATE 010895 SIPDIS PASS TO NDJAMENA MANAGEMENT SENSITIVE SIPDIS THE FOLLOWING STATE 010895 DTG O 030120Z FEB 08 SENT ACTION TO NDJAMENA AND INFO AFR DIP POSTS ALL NATO POST EU MEMBER STATES USUN NEW YORK GENEVA WHITE HOUSE NSC SECDEF JOINT STAFF COMFIFTHFLT COMSIXTHFLT NGA HQ BETHESDA COMSOCEUR JICPAC HQ USPACOM CDR USSOCOM CDR USCENTCOM CDR USJFCOM CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN HQ DA WASHDC CDR USSTRATCOM TRIPOLI DIA WASHDC CDR USSOUTHCOM CIA FBI WASHDC IS BEING REPEATED FOR YOUR ACTION: QUOTE: UNCLAS STATE 010895 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD SUBJECT: TFCDO1: CHAD TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 4 EMBASSY N'DJAMENA INITIATES ORDERED DEPARTURE ¶1. (SBU) EMBASSY N'DJAMENA REPORTS NO AMERICAN CASUALTIES STEMMING FROM THE ONGOING BATTLE BETWEEN CHADIAN MILITARY FORCES AND REBELS NEAR THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND THE EMBASSY. FOUR AMERICAN RESIDENCES WERE LOOTED. MOST AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE STANDING FAST IN THREE LOCATIONS IN N'DJAMENA. COMMUNICATIONS ARE FRAGILE, WITH CELL PHONE COMMUNICATIONS NON-OPERABLE. CONTACT BETWEEN POST AND THE FRENCH EMBASSY IS POOR. POST IS CONCERNED THAT POOR ACCESS TO CONSUMABLES MAY HAMPER EMBASSY ACTIVITIES. ¶2. (SBU) THE EMBASSY ACTIVATED THE WARDEN NETWORK BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED MANY PRIVATE CITIZEN INQUIRIES. ABOUT 20 AMCITS ARE LIKELY UNDER FRENCH PROTECTION. AMERICAN CITIZEN WELFARE/WHEREABOUTS CASES INCLUDE FOUR FROM THE MERIDIEN HOTEL, NINE (INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN) AT THE TURKISH CHADIAN SCHOOL, AND THREE(INCLUDING A PREGNANT WOMAN) AT THE FRENCH HIGH SCHOOL. EMBASSY N'DJAMENA GRANTED REFUGE TO ONE ADULT AMERICAN CITIZEN, AND ONE 8-YEAR OLD AMERICAN CITIZEN WITH HIS CHADIAN MOTHER. REBELS REPULSED FROM PALACE, NEITHER SIDE WINNING -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) EMBASSY PARIS REPORTS FIGHTING DECLINED SOMEWHAT AFTER NIGHTFALL, BUT SECURITY WAS ERODED FURTHER WHEN REBELS OPENED CITY JAILS. U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT DEPLOYED FOR EVACUATION -------------- - ¶4. (SBU) TWO STOL AIRCRAFT ARE DEPLOYED IN THE REGION AND TWO C-130 AIRCRAFT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BY FEBRUARY 3 FOR EVACUATION REQUESTS. A FOUR-MAN DS/MSD TEAM WILL ALSO DEPLOY TO CAMEROON. EMBASSY N'DJAMENA REPORTS AIR OPERATIONSCOULD BE HAMPERED BY THE LACK OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AT THE AIRPORT AND POSSIBLE RUNWAY DAMAGE. EVACUEES WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO YAOUNDE OR NIAMEY; BOTH POSTS ARE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO EVACUATION CONTINGENCIES. THIRD-COUNTRY DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE REQUESTS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) INDIA: AN OFFICIAL INDIAN REQUEST FOR DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE WAS RELAYED THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS. INDIA REPORTED THAT 100 CITIZENS ARE LOCATED IN N'DJAMENA'S SAHEL HOTEL. ¶6. (SBU) CANADA: THE CANADIAN MFA REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FOR CANADIAN CITIZENS WISHING TO DEPART CHAD. THERE ARE 44 CANADIANS IN N'DJAMENA, BUT ONLY FIVE TO SIX HAVE REQUESTED DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE. ¶7. (SBU) UK: THE UK REQUESTED DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE FOR 24 CITIZENS. AU, UNSC, FRANCE CONDEMN REBEL ATTACK -------------- ¶8. (SBU) AU: THE AFRICAN UNION ISSUED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE REBEL ATTACK ACCORDING TO PRESS. ¶9. (SBU) FRANCE: MEDIA REPORT FRENCH FM KOUCHNER ALSO CONDEMNED THE ATTACK. ¶10. (SBU) USUN: USUN REPORTS FRENCH COUNTERPARTS ARE COOPERATING IN EFFORTS TOSECURE A UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE REBEL ATTACK. ¶11. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. RICE UNQUOTE RICE