CHADIAN REBELS - ERDIMI PLEDGES POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000117

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AND AF/C
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO UN AU SU
SUBJECT: CHADIAN REBELS - ERDIMI PLEDGES POLITICAL
ENGAGEMENT FIRST, BUT WILL RETURN TO THE FIELD WITHIN WEEKS

REF: KHARTOUM 106

Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 29, the newly-selected Chadian
rebel leader Timane Erdimi (reftel) told polchief and poloff
that his movement, the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR),will
focus first on political and diplomatic engagement, and only
later consider an attack on the Chadian Government. Erdimi
expressed interest in sending UFR envoys to both Paris and
Washington for meetings with senior French and American
officials, to encourage French and American leadership
supporting negotiations with President Deby. Erdimi also
reported that rebel leadership had reached consensus on
almost all Cabinet positions including the first Vice
President Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab, and Abdelwahid Aboud
Makkaye as Second Vice President. END SUMMARY.

POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT FIRST
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2. (C) Erdimi opened the meeting stating that the UFR will
focus first on political and diplomatic engagement before
staging an attack on the Government of Chad (GoC). Polchief
replied that UFR should reach out to President Deby and seek
to participate in a political dialogue with him. The USG is
not in favor of more violence or war in Chad or in Sudan. He
added that staging an attack on Chad would be a huge risk for
the UFR, that many observers perceive the Chadian rebels as
a tool for the Sudanese Government, and that by associating
closely with a regime under investigation for war crimes and
genocide, the rebels endanger their reputation and cause.
Erdimi responded that the Chadian rebels "are not a puppet of
the Sudanese Government and Khartoum cannot tell us what to
do, where to go, or how long to stay." Erdimi also claimed
that the UFR is not affected by Khartoum's interests and that
the UFR has not yet declared war or made any threats to the
GoC. "We talk to Deby's people all the time, but Deby always
refuses to negotiate," stated Erdimi. As an example of UFR's
political focus, Erdimi stated that UFR had recently reached
consensus on most of its political positions, including the
appointment of Vice President Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab,
and Abdelwahid Aboud Makkaye as Second Vice President.
Erdimi directed poloffs to a press statement on
www.tchadactuel.com listing these appointments (the full text
of which can be found in Paragraph 7.)

DESIRE TO SEND ENVOYS TO THE WEST
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3. (C) Erdimi stated that the UFR would like to send a
representative to both Paris and Washington to explain UFR's
position and correct misperceptions about the Chadian armed
opposition. He said that UFR is already speaking with the
French Embassy in Khartoum about this, and inquired about
when and how UFR could send an envoy to the U.S. Erdimi
claimed that his movement also has many contacts within the
French government, and further claimed that these contacts
have received "positive feedback" that there is now an option
to President Deby. Erdimi complained about the perceived
lack of US policy on Chad, noting "we are frustrated that the
U.S. has only viewed Chad through its Darfur policy, and we
need to look at Chad through an independent lens" given the
many problems with Deby's leadership and governance. If the
U.S. first focuses on Chad and its internal politics, then
the problems of Darfur will be much easier to solve, stated
Erdimi.

DEBY'S BRUTALITY AND EXECUTION OF SISTER
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4. (C) Erdimi repeated (as reftel) that Deby ordered the
execution of his sister following his selection as UFR
president. (Note: Erdimi appeared visibly distraught while
discussing this issue. End Note.) Erdimi reported that the
majority of his family is now in Cameroon and that his
relatives (who are Deby's relatives too) remaining in Chad
will soon flee the country. Erdimi then returned to a litany
of complaints against Deby including his brutality,
corruption, and thirst for power. (Note: Also on January
29, the UFR issued a press release listing many of these same
complaints. The release states that the GOC's "violent
reaction" to rebel unity proves "that we made the right
choice in creating our movement." The statement then claims
that Deby has destabilized neighboring countries to divert
attention from Chad, that he is the source of shame,
injustice, and waste in Chad. The release can be found on

KHARTOUM 00000117 002 OF 003


many websites such as: www.tchadactuel.com. End Note.)

ENGAGEMENT WITH POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN CHAD
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5. (C) When asked about UFR's relationship with the
political opposition inside Chad, Erdimi responded that "of
course" his movement has a relationship with many different
opposition parties and leaders within Chad. He noted,
however, that this relationship alone will not bring the
necessary change to Chad. Likewise, Erdimi appeared
dismissive of repairing the fractured relationship between
Chadian and Sudanese Zaghawa, splintered into numerous armed
opposition movements, clans, and competing political
orientations. "The problem is not about reconciling the
Zaghawa tribe, the problem is Deby," stated Erdimi. Erdimi
stated that he will only remain in Khartoum for one or two
more weeks before returning to the field, and that he
welcomes further meetings with the U.S. Embassy before his
departure.

WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN GOS AND GOC
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6. (SBU) Also on January 29, Sudanese Government officials
publicly lashed out at Chad for its support of the Darfur
rebel movement, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Sudanese television prominently featured Presidential
Assistant Nafi Ali Nafi expressing concern over Chad's
continued support of Darfur rebels, and accused the GOC of
disregarding its agreements with Sudan. Sudanese Minister of
Information Kamal Obeid also provided similar statements to
the Sudanese state news agency SUNA, and accused Chadian
troops of attempting to supply JEM fighters inside Sudan
after weeks of fighting in South Darfur.

COMMENT
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6. (C) Erdimi appeared less eager to stage an attack than
other UFR members (as reported reftel). Although Erdimi said
the right things about diplomatic engagement, the fact that
he will soon return to the field may signal UFR's true plans.
In order to succeed, the rebels will rely upon an element of
surprise, and it may be possible that Erdimi was
intentionally attempting to deceive U.S. officials of UFR's
real intentions. Erdimi's visible distress over his sister's
death, his dismissive attitude toward Chadian political
opposition, and the impatience of his fighters (who have now
been sitting idly in the field for over 6 months) are all
likely other factors that may motivate UFR to make a move
against the GOC in the coming weeks. Post recommends some
sort of Washington outreach to Erdimi to at least try to
delay renewed rebel military action.

OTHER UFR APPOINTMENTS
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7. (U) Begin text from www.tchadactuel.com:

"UFR: Communique de Presse

Les presidents des movements fondateurs de l'UFR reunis a
Hadjar Marfaine ont procede a la designation par consensus le
lundi 26 janvier des camardes Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab 1er
Vice president et Abdelwahid Aboud Makkaye 2eme Vice
President et le mercredi 28 janvier des autres membres du
bureau executif dont la composition est comme suit:

Secretariat General - Abakar Tollimi
Secretariat General Adjoint - Mahamat Ahmat Ishakh
Delegue aux Armees Adoum Yacoub
Delegue Adjoint aux Armees - (not assigned)
Delegue a la communication Porte Parole - Abderaman
Koulamallah
Delegue a la communication Porte Parole Adjoint- Guihini Korei
Delegue aux Finances- Djibrine Assali
Delegue Adjoint aux Finances - Saadadine Ali Mahmat
Delegue aux Relations Exterieures - Albadour Acycl Ahmat
Aghbach
Delegue Adjoint aux Relations Exterieures - Abdelkerim Omi
Delegue a la Securite et a l'Administration du Territorie -
Zakaria Charafi
Delegue Adjoint a la Securite et a 'Administration du
Territorie - Kerim Bori
Delegue aux Affaires Juridigues - (not assigned)
Delegue Adjoint aux Affaires Juridigues - Alio Abdoulaye
Ibrahim
Delegue aux Affaires Sociales et Victimes de Guerre - Adam

KHARTOUM 00000117 003 OF 003


Dafaalla
Delegue Adjoint aux Affaires Sociales et Victimes de Guerre -
Hassan Abaye
Delegue a la Sante - Ahmat Alio
Delegue Adjoint a la Sante - Allamine Hidjazi Fazari
Delegue au Controle General - Mahamat Cherif Djako
Delegue Adjoint au Controle General - Adji Malloumi

Mahamat Djarma Khatre
President de la Commision Ad Hoc"
FERNANDEZ