MINURCAT PROGRESS REPORT: EAST CHAD SECURITY

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000023 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C STATE FOR S/USSES OSD 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: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF UNSC SU CD SUBJECT: MINURCAT PROGRESS REPORT: EAST CHAD SECURITY IMPROVING, CIVIL AFFAIRS PROJECTS MAKING HEADWAY -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) SRSG Victor Angelo told the resident diplomatic and IO corps in N'Djamena January 11 that he was in the process of framing his end-of-first-year report to the SYG and UN Security Council on the performance of the MINURCAT PKO since its inception last March. The report, due in February, will set the stage for formal discussions of mandate renewal. Angelo said also that the security situation for civilians in Eastern Chad had improved over the past month, and that there was significant progress on civil affairs projects that will benefit the eastern part of nation over the coming year. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Much of the SRSG,s presentation concerned the overall security situation in Eastern Chad and MINURCAT,s contribution to its improvement/stabilization. Angelo described 256 serious security incidents over the past year, including car-jackings (57),break-ins (53),thefts (21) and kidnappings (three). He noted that the menace of criminality that had developed during the second half of 2009 was directed in the main against NGO reps, with kidnappings and attacks against convoys of humanitarian vehicles creating a climate of fear. ¶3. (SBU) The SRSG noted that a consequence of these attacks, NGO activities -- and thus attacks themselves -- were down in December, even though there were substantially more NGO reps in Chad now than one year ago. Angelo also speculated that an increase in patrols on the part of the ANT had contributed to the recent decrease in criminal activity directed at NGOs. ¶4. (SBU) Angelo reported that MINURCAT still suffered from incomplete troop deployments, but he predicted that 1,000 additional troops would arrive in January from various countries who had pledged assistance. The SRSG said that the abilities of the DIS continued to improve, but that the force needed considerably more training and assistance with coordination with other law enforcement entities if it were to prove successful. ¶5. (SBU) Angelo reviewed current MINURCAT activities in the civil sector, including training programs for prefects and sub-prefects who would take up roles of justices of the peace. He described MINURCAT,s efforts in the potable water field, indicating that MINURCAT had located what appeared to be a sizable acquifer in the Abeche region, which might provide a water system for that city. MINURCAT,s next priority with respect to water would be Iriba. ¶6. (SBU) Angelo advised the gathering that the range of possible recommendations he might make to the UNSC with respect to the one-year review of the PKO, stressing that "outcomes for MINURCAT,s projected second year went from A to Z." Coordination was under way among the P-5, he stressed, all of whom were proceeding on the notion that MINURCAT had been stood up with the expectation of a two-year deployment. ¶7. (SBU) Minimize considered. NIGRO