Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NDJAMENA334
2009-08-12 14:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:
FRENCH CDA ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER ISSUES
how-toVZCZCXRO0653 OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHKUK RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHNJ #0334 2241411 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 121411Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7156 RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000334
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF MOPS MARR SU LY FR CD
SUBJECT: FRENCH CDA ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER ISSUES
REF: (A) STATE 80741, (B) NDJAMENA 304
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000334
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF MOPS MARR SU LY FR CD
SUBJECT: FRENCH CDA ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER ISSUES
REF: (A) STATE 80741, (B) NDJAMENA 304
1. (SBU) AMBASSADOR MET WITH FRENCH CHARGE ERWAN DE GOUVELLO AND
SECOND COUNSELOR FOR POLMIL AFFAIRS JEROME THEUERKAUFF ON AUGUST 6.
2. (SBU) THE KEY POINTS OF OUR DISCUSSION WERE:
-- THE FRENCH WERE SKEPTICAL OF RECENT SUDAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSATIONS
OF LARGE-SCALE INCURSIONS INTO SUDAN BY CHADIAN ARMY UNITS NORTH OF
EL GENEINA.
-- THE FRENCH DESCRIBED CURRENT CHADIAN DEFENSIVE TACTICS ALONG THE
BORDER WITH SUDAN AS FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED.
-- MIXED UNITS COMPOSED OF GENDARMES AND "NOMAD GUARDS" (A CHADIAN
MILITARY SERVICE ADAPTED TO DESERT OPERATIONS) PATROLLED THE BORDER
NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EL GENEINA-ABECHE AXIS, WHILE CHADIAN
NATIONAL ARMY (ANT) UNITS REMAINED IN FIXED POSITIONS AND ABLE TO
SERVE AS MANEUVER FORCES IN CASE OF THREAT FROM SUDAN.
-- THE FRENCH SAID THERE WAS ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT CHAD MILITARY
PATROLLING ALONG THE VAGUE AND UNMARKED BORDER COULD STRAY ACROSS IT
AND THERE WAS AS WELL THE POSSIBILITY OF "FREE-LANCE" RAIDING ACROSS
THE BORDER BY UNDER-EMPLOYED AND UNDER-DISCIPLINED CHADIAN TROOPS.
-- THE FRENCH DID NOT DISCOUNT THAT THE SUDANESE CHARGES WERE LINKED
TO SOME KIND OF REBEL- OR BANDIT-RELATED ACTIVITY AND ADDED THAT
SUDANESE CHARGES THAT THE CHAD MILITARY TOOK PRISONERS OR HOSTAGES
VERY QUESTIONABLE, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIT PREVIOUS PATTERNS OF
CHAD BEHAVIOR.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) THE FRENCH ARE CERTAINLY IN A POSITION TO KNOW HOW MUCH
TRUTH THE SUDANESE ACCUSATIONS CONTAIN. WHETHER THEY WERE TELLING
US THE ULTIMATE TRUTH AS THEY SAW IT OR WERE GOING TO THEIR DEFAULT
POSITION OF DEFENDING THE GOC WHENEVER POSSIBLE (AND CREDIBLE) IS
ANOTHER MATTER.
NIGRO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF MOPS MARR SU LY FR CD
SUBJECT: FRENCH CDA ON CHAD-SUDAN BORDER ISSUES
REF: (A) STATE 80741, (B) NDJAMENA 304
1. (SBU) AMBASSADOR MET WITH FRENCH CHARGE ERWAN DE GOUVELLO AND
SECOND COUNSELOR FOR POLMIL AFFAIRS JEROME THEUERKAUFF ON AUGUST 6.
2. (SBU) THE KEY POINTS OF OUR DISCUSSION WERE:
-- THE FRENCH WERE SKEPTICAL OF RECENT SUDAN GOVERNMENT ACCUSATIONS
OF LARGE-SCALE INCURSIONS INTO SUDAN BY CHADIAN ARMY UNITS NORTH OF
EL GENEINA.
-- THE FRENCH DESCRIBED CURRENT CHADIAN DEFENSIVE TACTICS ALONG THE
BORDER WITH SUDAN AS FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED.
-- MIXED UNITS COMPOSED OF GENDARMES AND "NOMAD GUARDS" (A CHADIAN
MILITARY SERVICE ADAPTED TO DESERT OPERATIONS) PATROLLED THE BORDER
NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EL GENEINA-ABECHE AXIS, WHILE CHADIAN
NATIONAL ARMY (ANT) UNITS REMAINED IN FIXED POSITIONS AND ABLE TO
SERVE AS MANEUVER FORCES IN CASE OF THREAT FROM SUDAN.
-- THE FRENCH SAID THERE WAS ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT CHAD MILITARY
PATROLLING ALONG THE VAGUE AND UNMARKED BORDER COULD STRAY ACROSS IT
AND THERE WAS AS WELL THE POSSIBILITY OF "FREE-LANCE" RAIDING ACROSS
THE BORDER BY UNDER-EMPLOYED AND UNDER-DISCIPLINED CHADIAN TROOPS.
-- THE FRENCH DID NOT DISCOUNT THAT THE SUDANESE CHARGES WERE LINKED
TO SOME KIND OF REBEL- OR BANDIT-RELATED ACTIVITY AND ADDED THAT
SUDANESE CHARGES THAT THE CHAD MILITARY TOOK PRISONERS OR HOSTAGES
VERY QUESTIONABLE, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIT PREVIOUS PATTERNS OF
CHAD BEHAVIOR.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) THE FRENCH ARE CERTAINLY IN A POSITION TO KNOW HOW MUCH
TRUTH THE SUDANESE ACCUSATIONS CONTAIN. WHETHER THEY WERE TELLING
US THE ULTIMATE TRUTH AS THEY SAW IT OR WERE GOING TO THEIR DEFAULT
POSITION OF DEFENDING THE GOC WHENEVER POSSIBLE (AND CREDIBLE) IS
ANOTHER MATTER.
NIGRO