VZCZCXRO7971
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #0070 0330807
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 020807Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6046
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0990
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0896
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 1472
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY PRIORITY 3040
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0160
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 1650
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUSNNOT/SOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000070 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR OPS, AF/C, DS, CA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR CASC MOPS SU PINS ASEC CD
SUBJECT: SITREP 5: FIGHTING ONGOING IN NDJAMENA 
 
REF: NDJAMENA 69 AND PREVIOUS 
 
---------------- 
GENERAL SITUATION 
----------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Sounds of artillery fire and automatic weapons have 
been heard off-and-on beginning 0845 2 February in N'djemana. 
Fighting between elements of the Chadian military forces 
loyal to President Deby and rebel forces continue. The road 
in front of the presidential palace is closed. There is 
little/no traffic on the main roads. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Conversely, the situation in the East is currently 
calm, though some areas are reporting an increase in 
banditry/lawlessness. In abeche, schools and banks stayed 
closed.  In Guereda, 24 humanitarians were evacuated by road. 
Bihai is currently calm. In the past week, Koukou has seen an 
estimated 2,000 new arrivals from Sudan. French have 
confirmed to officials in Abeche that they will host the 
humanitarian community on the French base if there is an 
evacuation.  There were no UNHAS flights from N'djamena to 
Abeche on 1 February. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
OTHER MISSION DRAWDOWNS: NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL DEPARTS 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) At 0130 local on 2 February, French Ambassador told 
Ambassador that French are asking citizens to consolidate at 
the N'djamena French base.  French said they stand ready to 
assist with evacuating Amcits on French military aircraft. 
 
4 (SBU) At 0330 local core EAC determined that tripwires have 
been crossed and EAC recommended that all non-essential 
personnel evacuate.  A warden message was distributed 
alerting AmCits to change in American security posture. At 
07:50 local, the Department endorsed authorized departure for 
19 non-emergency personnel. The American community here has 
remained calm; CONS has not received a single call from 
worried AmCits. At 0818 airplane departed N'djemana for 
Cameroon with ETA of 1118. AmEmbassy Yaounde waiting to 
assist. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Chinese Ambassador told Ambassador yesterday 
that many Chinese commercial workers (i.e. workers at CNPC - 
China National Petroleum Company) were being evacuated to 
Cameroon. Yet, several other missions, including the Chinese, 
are standing fast. 
 
--------------- 
MISSION POSTURE 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) All other Embassy personnel remain in Embassy 
compound. EAC will reconvene at 1000 local time, 2 February. 
NIGRO