CHAD: SOUBIANE'S REBELS "RE-INTEGRATED" INTO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000499 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/C STATE FOR S/USSES SECDEF FOR DASD HUDDLESTON NSC FOR GAVIN LONDON FOR POL - LORD PARIS FOR POL - BAIN AND KANEDA ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL MARR SU CD SUBJECT: CHAD: SOUBIANE'S REBELS "RE-INTEGRATED" INTO CHADIAN ARMY, LESS 120-150 CHILD SOLDIERS HANDED TO UNICEF REF: A. NDJAMENA 362 ¶B. NDJAMENA 306 -------------- SOUBIANE'S REBELS "RE-JOIN" CHADIAN ARMY -------------- ¶1. (U) The GOC announced October 28 that some 1,744 fighters from Ahmat Soubiane's National Movement (MN) rebel group had been integrated into the Chadian Army (ANT) on October 27 in a ceremony conducted in the GOC's military re-integration camp in the town of Moussoro, some 100 miles northeast of N'Djamena The MN fighters brought with them some 47 vehicles, 17 of them with crew-served weapons mounted on them. National Mediator Abderamane Moussa presided over the ceremony, along with senior ANT and other GOC officials. The MN was represented by Soubiane and Issa Moussa Tamboule, president and vice-president, respectively. ¶2. (U) The National Mediator congratulated the MN chiefs and fighters for having taken advantage of President Deby's "open hand" policy to return to Chad and join in the development of the country (Ref B). The MN fighters will be paid their "arrears of salary" starting October 28. The lead ANT representative at Moussoro announced that "the minors among the MN fighters will be identified, registered, and handed over to UNICEF in Chad." -------------- 120 CHILD SOLDIERS REMITTED TO UNICEF -------------- ¶3. (SBU) UNICEF Country Director Marzio Babille told Ambassador October 28 that he expected that the GOC to remit between 120 and 150 child soldiers from Soubiane's MN fighters to UNICEF's custody. He said that 22 minors, of Tama ethnic origin, aged 12-17 years, had already been handed to UNICEF's custody and that he expected another 100-125 to be handed over after UNICEF and the GOC jointly conducted age-verification and certification, starting October 28. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hilde Johnson met some from the first group of 22 the latter's recent visit to Chad. The underage fighters were now lodged at the UNICEF-supported Transit Center operated by the GOC Ministry of Social Action in Moussoro before being transferred to the program's rehabilitation and reintegration center in N'Djamena. Babille added that one female soldier had been at the Transit Center a month ago, but was later certified to be 18 years of ago. -------------- GOC INVITES DIPS AND IOS TO VISIT MILITARY CAMPS -------------- ¶4. (U) The MFA is continuing its awareness campaign against the use of child soldiers (Ref A). Following up on August visits to military and law enforcement headquarters, the MFA has invited UN and diplomatic officials to visit two additional military camps as the GOC widens its outreach to sensitize GOC military commanders and reviews the ranks for potential underage combatants. In the coming days, the MFA will lead this delegation to military camps in Moussoro and Mongo. Embassy officers will participate. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The GOC has performed better up to now on underage returning rebels than on underage soldiers in its own ranks. We are working with UNICEF and others to move the GOC to greater concrete action on its own underage soldiers and camp-servants. NDJAMENA 00000499 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Despite suspicions that fewer than half of Soubiane's cadres are actual fighters (with the rest having "signed up" for the financial incentives offered by the GOC) the reintegration of Soubiane's MN group is good news. END COMMENT. ¶7. (U) Minimize considered. NIGRO