Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NDJAMENA71
2009-03-05 12:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

CHAD/CAR: SRSG UPBEAT ON MINURCAT II DEPLOYMENT,

Tags:  PREL PREF UN EU AU PKO SU CT CD 
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VZCZCXRO0667
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #0071/01 0641255
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051255Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6763
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0548
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NDJAMENA 000071 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF UN EU AU PKO SU CT CD
SUBJECT: CHAD/CAR: SRSG UPBEAT ON MINURCAT II DEPLOYMENT,
EARLY OPERATIONS, AND TRANSITION FROM EUFOR ON MARCH 15

REF: NDJAMENA 0057

NDJAMENA 00000071 001.2 OF 003


---------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NDJAMENA 000071

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF UN EU AU PKO SU CT CD
SUBJECT: CHAD/CAR: SRSG UPBEAT ON MINURCAT II DEPLOYMENT,
EARLY OPERATIONS, AND TRANSITION FROM EUFOR ON MARCH 15

REF: NDJAMENA 0057

NDJAMENA 00000071 001.2 OF 003


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) SRSG Victor Angelo gave a generally positive
briefing to the NDjamena Diplomatic Corps March 3 on the
status of the March 15 transition of military security
responsibilities from EUFOR to MINURCAT II; on MINURCAT's
continued deployment; and on the PKO's current operations.
All GOC-UN accords needed for the transition were signed; all
EUFOR camps would revert to MINURCAT II; and a SOFA with the
GOC would be signed soon. Angelo reported on the status of
arrival dates for troop contingents and said that on 15
March, some 2,000 EUFOR would remain on the ground in Chad in
transition mode. Angelo said he had 70 percent of his
authorized civilian staff in country, including 236 UNPOLs.
All authorized 850 DIS (Detachements Integres de Securites --
Chadian police and gendarmes trained and mentored by UNPOL)
were deployed to forward bases.


2. (SBU) Angelo said that the general security situation in
eastern Chad, including Abeche town, was improving as a
result of MINURCAT deployment, especially DIS deployment in
the camps, and better UN-GOC collaboration on security.
MINURCAT was helping Chad local authorities to apprehend,
try, and punish lawbreakers; DIS had already made some 81
arrests and recovered four vehicles; and DIS presence had
begun to change the dynamic on "politicization" of the camps,
including recruitment of under-age men. "We're seeing a
change of attitude among the refugee families," Angelo said.
At some camps, some rebel fighters returning to visit
families were registering with the UN and handing over arms
to DIS. Angelo emphasized that amidst a growing body of good
news about MINURCAT II, one of his chief concerns now was the
rapid depletion of the Trust Fund that financed DIS training
and deployment and that was supposed to fund the good
governance part of its mandate. Angelo said that he had the
capability to make important strides in both DIS expansion
and good governance -- judicial and prison reform, protection
of human rights, etc -- but lack of adequate financing of the
Trust Fund could threaten achievement of these goals. (See

REFTEL.)


3. (SBU) We were troubled by Angelo's public disclosure of
his deep concern over the depletion of the Trust Fund that
financed DIS training and deployment, and that should finance
projects to implement MINURCAT's mandate in the areas of
human rights, prison reform, and law enforcement reform in
eastern Chad. We fear that MINURCAT II's effectiveness will
be limited by Trust Fund budgetary shortfalls that will
undermine the effectiveness of its two "strategic
instruments" -- the DIS and the good governance projects that
could provide for security for cibvilians in eastern Chad
after MINURCAT's eventual departure. We hope the USG, along
with other donors, will step up with renewed funding for the
Trust Fund, which more directly provides for the security of
Darfuri refugees in Chad than the much bigger and better
understood military piece of MINURCAT II. END SUMMARY.

--------------
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
--------------


4. (SBU) Angelo was generally upbeat regarding Chad
developments. All GOC-UN accords needed for the transition
from EUFOR to MINURCAT II were signed; all EUFOR camps would
revert to MINURCAT; conversations continued for purchase of
EUFOR equipment by the UN for MINURCAT II. Angelo was
discussing a SOFA with the GOC, which would be signed soon.
MINURCAT had hosted ICAO team to improve air traffic
facilities and operations at both NDjamena and Abeche
airports. The goal with the latter was to bring it up to
international airport standards.


5. (SBU) Angelo reported on the status of arrival dates for
troop contingents from Ghana and Togo, and the possibility of
a Malawi contingent. On 15 March, some 2,030 EUFOR troops
would remain on the ground in Chad to ensure a smooth
transition to MINURCAT II, after which most would eventually
leave. Plans were being finalized for the ceremonial
transition, with events in NDjamena and Abeche to which the
diplomatic corps would be invited, March 14-15.


6. (SBU) Angelo said that 70 per cent of his authorized
civilian staff were in country. Of the 300 UNPOL officers
authorized, some 236 were in country, deployed to all forward
bases, including remote and difficult Baghai. The UN had
resumed recruiting UNPOLs, and three Libyan police officers

NDJAMENA 00000071 002.2 OF 003


soon would be on board. All 850 DIS individuals authorized
to be part of the DIS (Detachements Integre de Securite --
Chadian police and gendarmes trained and mentored by UNPOLs)
were deployed in eastern Chad in 87 vehicles, with more
vehicles coming. Announcement would be made soon of the
arrival of the Military Force Commander, Senegalese
three-star Elhadji Kandji, expected to join an Irish two-star
Deputy Commander and a Swedish Chief of Staff, whose staff
officers were arriving in regular groups.

--------------
TRUST FUND DEPLETION?
--------------


7. (SBU) Angelo emphaszed that amidst a growing boduy of
good news abou MINURCAT II, one of his chief concerns now
was he rapid depletion of the Trust Fund that financedDIS
training and deployment and that was suppose to fund the
good governance part of its manate. Angelo said that he had
the capability to make important strides in both DIS
expansion and good governance -- judicial and prison reform,
protection of human rights, etc. -- but lack of adequate
financing of the Trust Fund could threaten achievement of
these goals.

--------------
ICC RULING
--------------


8. (SBU) Angelo described UN precautions regarding the
expected announcement of the ICC ruling against Sudan
President Bashir on March 4. Angelo said he had GOC
assurances that even in the event of rebel attacks from
Sudan, the DIS would not be used for national defense, but
would remain deployed in camps on police duties.

--------------
DAKAR ACCORD IMPLEMENTATION
--------------


9. (SBU) Angelo said that scheduling conflicts had forced
the postponement of the projected next meeting of the Contact
Group at Khartoum February 28. The GOC had been prepared to
go to Khartoum -- FORMIN Faki had cleared his schedule -- and
the GOS had been ready to host the meeting, but Congo/B and
Gabon FORMINs, co-chair and member, respectively, of the
Contact Group, had been obliged to attend a regional
ministerial meeting in Brazzaville, so Chad, Sudan, Eritrea,
and Libya had agreed to a postponement of the Khartoum
meeting, for which a new date had not yet been set, but which
likely would be after March 15.

--------------
EASTERN CHAD SECURITY SITUATION
--------------


10. (SBU) Angelo said that the general security situation in
eastern Chad, including in Abeche town, was slowly but
noticeably improving, as a result of continuing MINURCAT
deployments, including deployment of DIS in the camps, and
better UN-GOC collaboration on security matters. It was
essential that lawbreakers be apprehended, brought to trial,
and punished. MINURCAT was working with Chad local
authorities to help them do this. As of last week, DIS had
conducted some 900 escort patrols; in the course of their
operations, DIS had made some 81 arrests and recovered four
stolen vehicles. GOC disarmament sweeps had helped. In the
camps, DIS presence had started to change the dynamic on
recruitment of under-age men. Where before the practice was
encouraged, now it was discouraged and considered
unacceptable. "We're seeing a change of attitude among the
refugee families," Angelo said. Even in rebellious An-Nabok
camp, where the rebel presence had encouraged refugee
violence against UN workers (and where operations had been
suspended for months),there was a change. Some, but not
all, rebel fighters returning to the camps from Sudan to
visit families were registering with the UN and handing over
arms to DIS on entering the camps. Angelo said that even
this perhaps symbolic mark of respect for GOC and UN
authority was a hopeful sign. Later on, when MINURCAT was
fully deployed and fully functional, it would move more
vigorously to disarm and "de-politicize" the camps, Angelo
predicted.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


11. (SBU) We were troubled by Angelo's semi-public
disclosure of his deep concern over the depletion of the

NDJAMENA 00000071 003.2 OF 003


Trust Fund that financed DIS training and deployment, and
that should finance projects to implement MINURCAT's mandate
in the areas of human rights, prison reform, and law
enforcement reform in eastern Chad. (REFTEL details the
possibilities inherent in its mandate in these
capacity-building areas.) We fear that MINURCAT II's
effectiveness will be limited by Trust Fund budgetary
shortfalls that will undermine the effectiveness of its two
"strategic instruments" -- the DIS and the good governance
projects that could provide for security for civilians in
eastern Chad after MINURCAT's eventual departure. We hope
the USG, along with other donors, will step up with renewed
funding for the Trust Fund, which actually more directly
provides for the security of Darfuri refugees in Chad than
the much bigger and better understood military piece of
MINURCAT II and that have the possibility of doing so even
after MINURCAT has departed eastern Chad.

NIGRO