AMBASSADOR PRESSES GOC ON TIP/CHILD SOLDIERS, JEM,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NDJAMENA 000128 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C AND AF/USSES NSC FOR GAVIN AND HUDSON LONDON FOR POL -- LORD PARIS FOR POL -- D'ELIA AND KANEDA ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MASS KTIP PREF MARR AU SU, CD SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES GOC ON TIP/CHILD SOLDIERS, JEM, PSI, AND CHAD REBELS; GOC WELCOMES SE GRATION VISIT. REF: A. EMBASSY-AF/C MEMO VIA EMAIL 04/09 ¶B. NDJAMENA 0121 ¶C. NDJAMENA 0059 ¶D. 08 NDJAMENA 528 NDJAMENA 00000128 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Louis J. Nigro for reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d) ¶1. (SBU) This is an Action Request -- please see Para 12. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador told FORMIN April 10 that he was seeking an audience with President Deby to discuss several issues of capital importance to the US, namely: The need for the GOC to make speedy, concrete progress on TIP issues to avoid sanctions; to work with partners on child soldiers in Chad; to clarify the command structure of its "PSI battalions" to facilitate resumption of CT cooperation with U.S.; to clarify its position and practice on both assistance to JEM and talking to its own rebels; and to agree to fulfill requirements for release of the Chadian Guantanamo detainee to Chad. Ambassador noted that SE Gration likely would be considering another visit to the region and that he would be particularly interested in meeting President Deby to discuss regional security issues, including the GOC-JEM and GOC-Chad rebel relationships. Ambassador asked for the GOC's position on CIDI and Caring for Kaela initiative. Ambassador assured FORMIN that Embassy was prepared to use all its resources to work with GOC to make concrete progress on TIP/Child Soldiers, PSI battalions, and Guantanamo detainee return issues. ¶3. (C) FORMIN replied that the Council of Ministers had just adopted one of the international conventions that the USG wanted it to ratify for TIP purposes, and expected to receive the second one for adoption shortly. Faki said that the GOC was fully committed to take actions that would advance its TIP agenda and avoid any USG sanctions. On child soldiers, Faki said that the Minister of Defense "automatically" demobilized any child found in the ranks of the Chadian National Army. On PSI, Faki said that all GOC military forces reported to the Defense Ministry, and that the DEFMIN could assure the Ambassador regarding USG chain-of-command concerns regarding CT training and cooperation. The FORMIN accepted the diplomatic note regarding the modalities for release of Guantanamo detainee Yousef Abkir Salih al-Qarani and committed to a response. Faki also revealed that AU-UN Chief Mediator Bassole had just visited N'Djamena to update the GOC on progress with Sudan and on SE Gration's visit to Sudan. Faki referred to the CIDI and Caring for Kaela initiative as an "interesting intellectual exercise" but denied that the group had "any kind of mandate" to act on behalf of the GOC, despite its agreement with AMB Bashir, who had "exceeded his prerogatives." END SUMMARY. -------------- FORMIN AS PREVIEW TO DEBY MEETING -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador told Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat April 10 that he was seeking an audience with President Deby to discuss several issues of capital importance to the US -- the need for the GOC to make speedy, concrete progress on TIP issues to avoid sanctions; the need for the GOC to work with partners on child soldiers in Chad; the need for the GOC to clarify the command structure of its "PSI battalions" to facilitate resumption of CT cooperation with U.S.; the need for the GOC to clarify its position and practice on assistance to JEM and its position and practice on talking to its own rebels; and the need for the GOC to agree to fulfill requirements for release of Guantanamo detainee Yousef Abkir Salih al-Qarani to Chad. Ambassador noted that SE Gration likely would be considering another visit to the region and that he would be particularly interested in meeting President Deby to discuss regional security issues, including the GOC-JEM and GOC-Chad rebel relationships. Ambassador asked for the GOC's position on the Independent Commission for an NDJAMENA 00000128 002.2 OF 003 Inclusive Dialogue (CIDI) and Caring for Kaela initiative. Ambassador assured FORMIN that Embassy was prepared to use all its resources to work with GOC to make concrete progress on TIP/Child Soldiers, PSI battalions, and Guantanamo detainee issues. -------------- TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) FM Faki told Ambassador that the Council of Ministers had adopted the "Palermo Convention Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children," the previous day, April 9 (Ref C). Faki said the protocol would be sent to the National Assembly for parliamentary adoption next week, a step that would be followed by formal ratification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Faki promised to forward us a copy of the ratified protocol to the U.S., once this step was taken. The FORMIN underscored the GOC's targeted engagement with the trafficking issue and noted his motivation to collaborate with the U.S. to avoid sanctions that could stem a Tier III ranking (Ref A). Faki also said there was a second, related convention that was also being readied for adoption by the Council of Ministers but did not have the exact details. -------------- CHILD SOLDIERS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Faki stated unequivocally that the Minister of Defense would "automatically" demobilize child soldiers if any were found in the Chadian National Army (ANT) and encouraged the Ambassador to speak further with the Minister of Defense (Ref D). Faki noted that the GOC had last week demobilized another group of child soldiers in Abeche who had returned to Chad from Sudan as part of a rebel groups and that Chad was working with UNICEF and ICRC to rehabilitate child soldiers. --- PSI --- ¶7. (C) Ambassador explained to Faki the USG difficulty in resuming counter-terrorism training and other activities with Chad's so-called "PSI battalions" designated to receive such training because of the possibility that those battalions reported directly to the Directorate General of Security Services for National Institutions (DGSSIE, Former Presidential Guard). Ambassador said that we were seeking clear indication that the battalions reported "normally" to the Defense Ministry, rather than to the DGSSIE, within the ANT's chains of command. Faki said that all GOC military forces reported to the Defense Ministry, and that the DEFMIN could assure the Ambassador regarding USG chain-of-command concerns involving CT training and cooperation. -------------- CHADIAN DETAINEE -------------- ¶8. (C) Ambassador passed Faki a diplomatic note regarding the transfer of Chadian detainee Yousef Abkir Salih al-Qarani, noting that modalities for repatriation were standard for the transfer of all detainees being released from the Guantanamo Bay installation (Ref B). The FORMIN accepted the diplomatic note regarding the modalities for release of Guantanamo detainee Yousef Abkir Salih al-Qarani and committed to working with the USG on this issue. -------------- SUDAN: SE GRATION AND JOINT MEDIATOR BASSOLE -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Ambassador noted that Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration was completing his first Sudan visit; that we NDJAMENA 00000128 003.2 OF 003 expected SE Gration to visit Chad at some point, sooner rather than later; and that the SE would certainly want to discuss regional security issues with President Deby. Ambassador said it was likely that SE Gration would seek GOC action to eliminate assistance to JEM from Chad; urge the GOC to seek more effective ways of engaging in dialogue with Chadian rebels; and seek clarification of the GOC's policy and practice on child soldiers. Faki said that the GOC would welcome SE Gration's visit. Faki stated that UN-AU Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole was just concluding a visit to N'Djamena to update the GOC on his efforts. Faki said that Bassole had mentioned SE Gration's concerns regarding the NGOs expelled from Sudan. Faki also said that Bassole was concerned about potentially-waning Sudanese Government participation in and support for the Doha process. -------------- INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE BY CHADIAN DIASPORA -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Faki said very firmly that INGOs like the Independent Commission for an Inclusive Dialogue (CIDI) and Caring For Kaela (CFK) had "no mandate" to act on behalf of the GOC and no authorization to contact the State Department, the EU, or the French to pursue support for an "inclusive national dialogue" on behalf of the GOC. Faki added that President Deby had met CIDI members last fall and agreed with the group's proposal to convince Chad rebels to renounce violence and enter the political process. Faki conceded that CIDI had "interesting intellectual ideas" but stressed that Chad's problems were "real." He repeated GOC policy that it stood by its commitments to Sudan (Dakar Accord),Chad rebels (Sirte Accord),and democratic opposition parties (August 13 Accord). He noted his surprise at the news of collaboration between CIDI, CFK and the Chadian Ambassador in Washington, who he said had "exceeded his authority." Faki said the members of CIDI and CFK were welcome to come to Chad and speak with all interlocutors, but he repeated that the group did not represent the GOC. Regarding the Dakar Contact Group, which aims to resolve Chad-Sudan differences, Faki said that the GOC was waiting for Sudan to schedule a date for the next meeting. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (SBU) We are encouraged that the GOC has already begun to take action on TIP-related requirements and we intend to implement our action plan to help them make progress across the board on TIP, but especially on Child soldiers. For Ambassador's requested meeting with President Deby, we would appreciate Department's guidance on how to approach issues related to SE Gration's Sudan experience and future plans -- including dates of a visit here; GOC/JEM issues; GOC/Chad Rebel issues; and child soldiers. END COMMENT. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶12. (SBU) That the Department provide for Ambassador's requested meeting with President Deby guidance on how to approach issues related to SE Gration's Sudan experience and future plans -- including dates of a visit here; GOC/JEM issues; GOC/Chad Rebel issues; and child soldiers. END ACTION REQUEST. ¶13. (U) Minimize Tripoli considered. NIGRO