CHAD ADMITS MILITARY "HOT PURSUIT" INTO SUDAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000185 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/C, 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 ADMITS MILITARY "HOT PURSUIT" INTO SUDAN, PLANS OUTREACH TO TELL ITS SIDE OF THE STORY REF: A. KHARTOUM 652 ¶B. NDJAMENA 177 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The GOC confirmed publicly May 17 that it had made good last week on its long-standing pledge to exercise "right of hot pursuit" by pursuing fleeing Chad rebels back into Sudan and carrying out air strikes against them. The GOC appears to have displayed some restraint in these operations, bringing its ground forces back home rapidly and limiting aerial strikes to rebel targets strictly defined. The GOC's public statement generally confirms reporting from many sources, including Ref A, of Chadian cross-border operations. We hope but cannot be sure that this will reduce the rationale for Sudanese "retaliation" for Chad's cross-border operations as it removes the possibility of clashes between Chadian and Sudanese armed forces. The GOC plans to conduct a domestic and international "public diplomacy offensive" to clarify its position and counter Sudanese "propaganda." END SUMMARY. -------------- MILITARY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Acting Defense Minister Adoum Younousmi announced during a May 17 press conference that Chadian forces, including ground and air forces, "had completely withdrawn" from Sudan as of the afternoon of May 17. He said that the GOC had exercised its right of hot pursuit of the defeated rebels, with the result that Chadian air forces, supported by ground troops, had destroyed seven rebel pockets inside Sudan (Ref A). Chadian National Army (ANT) ground forces penetrated up to 40 kilometers into Sudan, according to Younousmi and a subsequent statement posted on the Chadian Presidency website. Younousmi also vowed that Chad would use its forces to prevent any reorganization of rebels, wherever they might try to regroup, with the intent of threatening Chad's security. ¶3. (SBU) Younousmi's May 17 remarks amplified May 15 remarks by Communication Minister and Government Spokesman Mahamat Hissene, who commented that he "would not be surprised by" reports of Chadian forces on Sudanese soil, since the ANT was continuing operations against rebels by chasing them out of Chad. Hissene noted that Sudan's angry response was surprising, given Sudan's responsibility in the May 4-7 attacks on Chad and history of supporting Chadian rebels. ¶4. (SBU) In Ref B last week, we reported that an ANT column entered Sudan May 13 near the Chadian town of Koukou Angarana and the Sudanese town of Babil in pursuit of Chad rebels, and that it had made some contact with rebels, but that there had been as of that time no fighting. The rebels fled deeper into Sudan, while the ANT column apparently operated back and forth across the border over the next several days. -------------- POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Spokesman Hissene also announced the outcome of the May 14 Council of Ministers meeting, in which the Council met to review political and diplomatic responses to Sudan's "aggression," in the form of the rebel attacks. Hissene said that Chad's options would soon be made public. He said that he GOC planned to seek criminal charges against captured rebels and would equip Chadian military forces with the means necessary for fighting in the face of war. As part of the meeting, the GOC decided to send an evaluation mission to the regions affected by the May 4-7 fighting to develop an assistance program for the local population and to restore peace and security, according to Hissene. The spokesman added that the GOC would send missions to all regions of Chad to inform the population about its recent military actions, as well as to raise awareness of the upcoming general population census. He noted that the GOC intended to send envoys to friendly countries to apprise them of Sudan's actions toward the Chadian people. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The GOC's public acknowledgment of its exercise of NDJAMENA 00000185 002 OF 002 "right of hot pursuit" with respect to Chad rebels fleeing back into Sudan appears to have been accomplished with some restraint, as ground forces were brought back home rapidly and aerial strikes were limited to rebel targets strictly defined. The GoC statement generally confirms reporting from many sources, including Ref A, of Chadian cross-border operations. We hope but cannot be sure that this will reduce the rationale for Sudanese "retaliation" for Chad's cross-border operations as it removes the possibility of clashes between Chadian and Sudanese armed forces. The GOC plans to conduct a domestic and international "public diplomacy offensive" to clarify its position and counter Sudanese "propaganda" strike us as useful. ¶8. (U) Minimize considered. NIGRO