SAUDIS SKEPTICAL ABOUT SUDANESE INTERFERENCE IN

S E C R E T STATE 012119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS


PASS TO NDJAMENA MANAGEMENT
FOLLOWING RIYADH 00153 DATED 02/04/2008 SENT ACTION TO SECSTATE
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, KHARTOUM, NDJAMENA, JEDDAH,
BEING REPEATED FOR YOUR ACTION. QUOTE RICE

S E C R E T RIYADH 000153

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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

UNQUOTE: RICE