FURTHER ATTACKS TARGETING NGOS IN NE CAR MARK TROUBLING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGUI 000002 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C USUN FOR DMUERS PARIS FOR RKANEDA LONDON FOR PLORD AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL INR FOR JPEKKINEN DRL FOR SCRAMPTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR PREF CT SUBJECT: FURTHER ATTACKS TARGETING NGOS IN NE CAR MARK TROUBLING TREND REF: A - 09 BANGUI 272 BANGUI 00000002 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The December 22 and 23 targeted attacks on International Medical Corp (IMC) facilities, in northeastern Central African Republic (CAR) continue a disturbing pattern in this lawless and unstable part of central Africa (Ref A). The recent discovery of the three IMC vehicles for sale in Am Dukhan, Sudan may shed more light on the perpetrators of the attack, and it is increasingly clear that paramilitary groups in the region have identified NGOs with vehicles, satellite phones, and potential hostages as lucrative targets. Given the Central African army's lack of capacity to control the territory, more NGOs may be forced to leave a region already suffering from insurgency, food insecurity, and a lack of government services. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The late December attacks in northeastern CAR were brazen in scope. After attacking the IMC office in Ouanda Djalle and killing two civilians, the attackers set upon Sam Ouandja, site of 3,500 Darfuri refugees. There, the group attacked with 100 UFDR militia members based just outside of town and as units of the Central African Army (FACA) were doing a detachment change over - meaning there were up to 30 soldiers in the proximity. Multiple sources confirm that the FACA were alerted to the possibility of an assault, but after maintaining watch from four am until eight am, the FACA were caught on a shift change and apparently fled their barracks when the assailants attacked. Remarkably, the whole operation took less than 45 minutes, with the assailants escaping with three IMC vehicles. Post contacts reported that one FACA installation was pillaged and seven AK-47s were stolen. ¶3. (SBU) Perhaps even more troubling, IMC appears to have been deliberately targeted. IMC is a U.S. based healthcare and development NGO that receives 40 percent of its funding in the CAR from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. IMC currently operates in multiple locations in the region. In addition to the three vehicles, IMC offices in both Sam Ouandja and Ouanda Djalle were pillaged for communications equipment and supplies. According to the NGO, the assailants inquired about the whereabouts of one western expatriate employee in Ouanda Djalle, and for the western expatriate country director in Sam Ouandja - fortunately both had left days before. MINURCAT reports that while 15 militants went into Ouanda Djalle, 30 left, suggesting significant reconnoitering and pre positioning of personnel. ¶4. (SBU) On January 4, IMC reported to Post that their three vehicles were spotted for sale over the weekend in Am Doukoun, Sudan, located 20 km from the CAR/Sudan border. POLOFF informed the Sudanese Charge (SCDA) of the information and the SCDA said he would pass on the details to the competent authorities right away. He did admit that if the vehicles were in the hands of criminals, it may be difficult to recover them. ¶5. (SBU) So far, the two most credible hypotheses vis a vis the identity and motive of the culprits are: -- The attack was planned by a shadowy figure named Omar Yulusse, also known as Omar Sodiam (NOTE: SODIAM is the acronym for a Central African diamond trading company. END NOTE),who is a diamond merchant and former member of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity militia (UDFR),and carried out by Sudanese mercenaries. Yulusse may be seeking to take control of the lucrative diamond trade from the UFDR, which nominally controls the region with the consent of the CARG. It is also thought that this is the same ``Sudanese'' mercenary group was responsible for the kidnapping of French NGO workers in Birao, CAR in November 2009 (Ref A). This time, the group is working for a different person, Yulusse, with a different agenda (diamonds) BANGUI 00000002 002.2 OF 002 but the attacks were startlingly similar in their effective use of local intelligence, speed of action, and their modus operandi. Also, one contact on the ground claims that Yulusse's brother was part of the armed band. -- Another contact with close links to the FACA speculated that Chadian rebels, very likely those discussed in Ref A, perpetrated the attacks to replenish stocks of weapons, cash and other vitals after previous conflict with the government of Chad. This may explain their desire to perpetrate kidnapping for ransom, the theft of weapons, and the speed and unusual professionalism of their attack. ¶6. (SBU) It is worth noting that most informed contacts in Bangui believe there is no connection between these attacks and the attacks of December 11that left two UFDR members and a third person dead. (The third person was identified by the UFDR as a refugee from the camp.) As a result of the meeting between MINURCAT SRSG Victor Angelo and President Bozize in Bangui at the end of December, UFDR leader Zakaria Damane pledged not to attack the refugees or stop humanitarian aid from reaching the camp. This was met with wide acclaim in the media, but it should be noted that the UFDR has increased its presence in Sam Ouandja, and more than one contact has commented on the clear intention of the UFDR to pressure the refugees into leaving the area. (NOTE: While Bozize's probable pressure upon Damane, along with the blood price paid by the Sudanese refugees for the killing of the UFDR members, appears to have calmed the situation, Post has little faith that the two sides have found a lasting solution. Additionally, the UNHCR in Geneva is now considering the case of moving the refugees further into the CAR. No word yet on how the CAR government (CARG) will react to this. END NOTE). ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Northeastern CAR has been continuously destabilized for several years by internal conflict related to control of resources and the general lawlessness that prevails throughout the tri-border region. Furthermore, these recent attacks targeting NGO resources and expatriates also further imperil Darfuri refugees camped at Sam Ouandja and the local Central African population by driving away the few NGOs that provide food, shelter, and medical services. Although willing to react and provide information, the small UN peacekeeping force in the region, MINURCAT, does not currently have the mandate or the resources to counter the attacks. ¶8. (SBU) According the SCDA, there is a CARG delegation in Sudan to discuss border defense. This is a positive step in a region that is in desperate need of security and stability. Short term stability will be enhanced by MINURCAT, which sent a platoon of Nepalese soldiers to Birao on December 26 to augment the 300 Togolese currently stationed in the town. None the less, only robust Sudanese and Central African government measures will stabilize the region. END COMMENT. COOK