VZCZCXRO9970
OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDU RUEHKUK RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV
RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0117/01 0310728
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 310728Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2806
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AND AF/C 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO UN AU SU
SUBJECT: CHADIAN REBELS - ERDIMI PLEDGES POLITICAL 
ENGAGEMENT FIRST, BUT WILL RETURN TO THE FIELD WITHIN WEEKS 
 
REF: KHARTOUM 106 
 
Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d 
) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  On January 29, the newly-selected Chadian 
rebel leader Timane Erdimi (reftel) told polchief and poloff 
that his movement, the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR), will 
focus first on political and diplomatic engagement, and only 
later consider an attack on the Chadian Government.  Erdimi 
expressed interest in sending UFR envoys to both Paris and 
Washington for meetings with senior French and American 
officials, to encourage French and American leadership 
supporting negotiations with President Deby.  Erdimi also 
reported that rebel leadership had reached consensus on 
almost all Cabinet positions including the first Vice 
President Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab, and Abdelwahid Aboud 
Makkaye as Second Vice President.   END SUMMARY. 
 
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT FIRST 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶2.  (C)  Erdimi opened the meeting stating that the UFR will 
focus first on political and diplomatic engagement before 
staging an attack on the Government of Chad (GoC).  Polchief 
replied that UFR should reach out to President Deby and seek 
to participate in a political dialogue with him. The USG is 
not in favor of more violence or war in Chad or in Sudan.  He 
added that staging an attack on Chad would be a huge risk for 
the UFR, that  many observers perceive the Chadian rebels as 
a tool for the Sudanese Government, and that by associating 
closely with a regime under investigation for war crimes and 
genocide, the rebels endanger their reputation and cause. 
Erdimi responded that the Chadian rebels "are not a puppet of 
the Sudanese Government and Khartoum cannot tell us what to 
do, where to go, or how long to stay."  Erdimi also claimed 
that the UFR is not affected by Khartoum's interests and that 
the UFR has not yet declared war or made any threats to the 
GoC.  "We talk to Deby's people all the time, but Deby always 
refuses to negotiate," stated Erdimi.  As an example of UFR's 
political focus, Erdimi stated that UFR had recently reached 
consensus on most of its political positions, including the 
appointment of Vice President Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab, 
and Abdelwahid Aboud Makkaye as Second Vice President. 
Erdimi directed poloffs to a press statement on 
www.tchadactuel.com listing these appointments (the full text 
of which can be found in Paragraph 7.) 
 
DESIRE TO SEND ENVOYS TO THE WEST 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶3.  (C)  Erdimi stated that the UFR would like to send a 
representative to both Paris and Washington to explain UFR's 
position and correct misperceptions about the Chadian armed 
opposition.  He said that UFR is already speaking with the 
French Embassy in Khartoum about this, and inquired about 
when and how UFR could send an envoy to the U.S.  Erdimi 
claimed that his movement also has many contacts within the 
French government, and further claimed that these contacts 
have received "positive feedback" that there is now an option 
to President Deby.  Erdimi complained about the perceived 
lack of US policy on Chad, noting "we are frustrated that the 
U.S. has only viewed Chad through its Darfur policy, and we 
need to look at Chad through an independent lens" given the 
many problems with Deby's leadership and governance. If the 
U.S. first focuses on Chad and its internal politics, then 
the problems of Darfur will be much easier to solve, stated 
Erdimi. 
 
DEBY'S BRUTALITY AND EXECUTION OF SISTER 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶4.  (C) Erdimi repeated (as reftel) that Deby ordered the 
execution of his sister following his selection as UFR 
president.  (Note:  Erdimi appeared visibly distraught while 
discussing this issue.  End Note.)  Erdimi reported that the 
majority of his family is now in Cameroon and that his 
relatives (who are Deby's relatives too) remaining in Chad 
will soon flee the country.  Erdimi then returned to a litany 
of complaints against Deby including his brutality, 
corruption, and thirst for power.  (Note:  Also on January 
29, the UFR issued a press release listing many of these same 
complaints.  The release states that the GOC's "violent 
reaction" to rebel unity proves "that we made the right 
choice in creating our movement."  The statement then claims 
that Deby has destabilized neighboring countries to divert 
attention from Chad, that he is the source of shame, 
injustice, and waste in Chad.  The release can be found on 
 
KHARTOUM 00000117  002 OF 003 
 
 
many websites such as: www.tchadactuel.com.  End Note.) 
 
ENGAGEMENT WITH POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN CHAD 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶5.  (C)  When asked about UFR's relationship with the 
political opposition inside Chad, Erdimi responded that "of 
course" his movement has a relationship with many different 
opposition parties and leaders within Chad.  He noted, 
however, that this relationship alone will not bring the 
necessary change to Chad.  Likewise, Erdimi appeared 
dismissive of repairing the fractured relationship between 
Chadian and Sudanese Zaghawa, splintered into numerous armed 
opposition movements, clans, and competing political 
orientations.  "The problem is not about reconciling the 
Zaghawa tribe, the problem is Deby," stated Erdimi. Erdimi 
stated that he will only remain in Khartoum for one or two 
more weeks before returning to the field, and that he 
welcomes further meetings with the U.S. Embassy before his 
departure. 
 
WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN GOS AND GOC 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶6.  (SBU)  Also on January 29, Sudanese Government officials 
publicly lashed out at Chad for its support of the Darfur 
rebel movement, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). 
Sudanese television prominently featured Presidential 
Assistant Nafi Ali Nafi expressing concern over Chad's 
continued support of Darfur rebels, and accused the GOC of 
disregarding its agreements with Sudan.  Sudanese Minister of 
Information Kamal Obeid also provided similar statements to 
the Sudanese state news agency SUNA, and accused Chadian 
troops of attempting to supply JEM fighters inside Sudan 
after weeks of fighting in South Darfur. 
 
COMMENT 
- - - - - 
¶6.  (C)  Erdimi appeared less eager to stage an attack than 
other UFR members (as reported reftel).  Although Erdimi said 
the right things about diplomatic engagement, the fact that 
he will soon return to the field may signal UFR's true plans. 
 In order to succeed, the rebels will rely upon an element of 
surprise, and it may be possible that Erdimi was 
intentionally attempting to deceive U.S. officials of UFR's 
real intentions.  Erdimi's visible distress over his sister's 
death, his dismissive attitude toward Chadian political 
opposition, and the impatience of his fighters (who have now 
been sitting idly in the field for over 6 months) are all 
likely other factors that may motivate UFR to make a move 
against the GOC in the coming weeks. Post recommends some 
sort of Washington outreach to Erdimi to at least try to 
delay renewed rebel military action. 
 
OTHER UFR APPOINTMENTS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
¶7.  (U)  Begin text from www.tchadactuel.com: 
 
"UFR:  Communique de Presse 
 
Les presidents des movements fondateurs de l'UFR reunis a 
Hadjar Marfaine ont procede a la designation par consensus le 
lundi 26 janvier des camardes Adouma Hassaballah Djadarab 1er 
Vice president et Abdelwahid Aboud Makkaye 2eme Vice 
President et le mercredi 28 janvier des autres membres du 
bureau executif dont la composition est comme suit: 
 
Secretariat General - Abakar Tollimi 
Secretariat General Adjoint - Mahamat Ahmat Ishakh 
Delegue aux Armees Adoum Yacoub 
Delegue Adjoint aux Armees - (not assigned) 
Delegue a la communication Porte Parole - Abderaman 
Koulamallah 
Delegue a la communication Porte Parole Adjoint- Guihini Korei 
Delegue aux Finances- Djibrine Assali 
Delegue Adjoint aux Finances - Saadadine Ali Mahmat 
Delegue aux Relations Exterieures - Albadour Acycl Ahmat 
Aghbach 
Delegue Adjoint aux Relations Exterieures - Abdelkerim Omi 
Delegue a la Securite et a l'Administration du Territorie - 
Zakaria Charafi 
Delegue Adjoint a la Securite et a 'Administration du 
Territorie - Kerim Bori 
Delegue aux Affaires Juridigues - (not assigned) 
Delegue Adjoint aux Affaires Juridigues - Alio Abdoulaye 
Ibrahim 
Delegue aux Affaires Sociales et Victimes de Guerre - Adam 
 
KHARTOUM 00000117  003 OF 003 
 
 
Dafaalla 
Delegue Adjoint aux Affaires Sociales et Victimes de Guerre - 
Hassan Abaye 
Delegue a la Sante - Ahmat Alio 
Delegue Adjoint a la Sante - Allamine Hidjazi Fazari 
Delegue au Controle General - Mahamat Cherif Djako 
Delegue Adjoint au Controle General - Adji Malloumi 
 
Mahamat Djarma Khatre 
President de la Commision Ad Hoc" 
FERNANDEZ