CHAD PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM AU AND QATARI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000184 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/C, AND AF/USSES - SE GRATION NSC FOR GAVIN LONDON FOR POL - LORD PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA AND KANEDA ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF MOPS SU LY QA CD SUBJECT: CHAD PLANS TO WITHDRAW FROM AU AND QATARI MEDIATION EFFORTS, SEND ENVOYS TO FRIENDLY CAPITALS REF: A. KHARTOUM 652 ¶B. NDJAMENA 177 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) FORMIN Faki thanked Ambassador May 15 for the USG's public support of Chad during the recent rebel incursion and explained that the GOC was likely to "freeze" or "suspend" participation in AU-sponsored and Qatar-sponsored mediation efforts to normalize Chad-Sudan relations, because of AU and Arab League bias toward Sudan. Faki did not mention breaking or downgrading relations with Sudan. Faki said that the GOC was planning visits by senior officials to friendly capitals to explain Chad,s side of the story. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador emphasized that the USG would look for GOC restraint in military operations against fleeing rebels, especially in chasing rebels into Sudan and that the GOC should consider carefully any decision to suspend its participation in diplomatic efforts to normalize Chad-Sudan relations. The Ambassador also Faki that the GOC should work closely with the ICRC on its Chad rebel prisoners and with ICRC and UNICEF on any rebel "child soldiers" among them. Ambassador told Faki that the USG would be happy to receive a senior GOC visitor at any time and that Chad should complement such diplomatic initiatives with public diplomacy initiatives. Faki did not mention breaking or downgrading relations with Sudan, although that remains a GOC option. ¶3. (SBU) A senior GOC visit to the U.S. would give us an opportunity to discuss multilateral as well as bilateral issues, especially Darfur, and to impress on the GOC at a senior level USG policy goals in that regard, building on SE Gration's recent successful visit here. Septel addresses the issue of Chadian military incursions into Sudan. END SUMMARY. ¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat convoked Ambassador May 15 to thank the USG for its public support of Chad during the recent rebel incursion and to explain the GOC's latest regional thinking in the wake of that attack. Faki said that although Chad had not made any final decisions, the GOC was likely to "freeze" or "suspend" participation in AU-sponsored and Qatar-sponsored mediation efforts to normalize Chad-Sudan relations, because of those mediators were unreliable and biased, reflecting persistent AU partiality to Sudan and Arab League solidarity with one of their own. Faki praised the USG's "clear and specific message" regarding Sudanese responsibility for the had rebel attack and said that President Deby was especially grateful to Special Envoy Gration for his personal message during the crisis. ¶5. (SBU) Faki noted that the GOS had not responded positively to SE Gration,s recommendation that it disarm Chad rebels returning to Sudan; nor had Khartoum made any other conciliatory gesture. Faki did not mention breaking or downgrading relations with Sudan, but the GOC could decide to do that. Faki said that the GOC was planning visits by senior officials to friendly capitals to explain Chad,s side of the story. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador emphasized to Faki that USG would appreciate GOC restraint in military operations against fleeing rebels -- in chasing rebels into Sudan the GOC risks escalating the situation and losing the morale superiority it enjoyed as the victim of Sudanese sponsorship of the Chad rebel attack. He also underlined to Faki that the GOC should consider carefully any decision to suspend its participation in diplomatic efforts to normalize Chad-Sudan relations; that the USG expected Chad to treat its Chad rebel prisoners responsibly (even if reports of Chad rebel atrocities toward ANT soldiers and Chad civilians were verified) and to work closely with ICRC on this; and that GOC should treat any "child soldiers" among those prisoners with special care and to work closely with UNICEF and ICRC on this. ¶7. (SBU) Ambassador told Faki that the USG would be happy to receive a senior GOC visitor at any time and that Chad should complement such diplomatic initiatives with public diplomacy NDJAMENA 00000184 002 OF 002 initiatives in the media (including the English-language media). President Deby could consider giving an interview to an English-language media outlet, like the BBC here, as riposte to President Bachir,s recent BBC interview and the GOC should consider issuing a "white paper" detailing the Chad-Sudan dispute from N,Djamena,s perspective. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Although Faki did not mention breaking or downgrading relations with Sudan, such a step remains possible. A senior GOC visit to the U.S. would give us an opportunity to discuss multilateral as well as bilateral issues, especially Darfur, and to impress on the GOC at a senior level USG policy goals in that regard, building on SE Gration's recent successful visit here. END COMMENT ¶9. (U) Minimize considered. NIGRO