VZCZCXRO1408
PP RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHKUK RUEHMA
RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0542/01 3221237
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181237Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7447
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0959
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000542 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR AF/C 
STATE ALSO FOR S/USSES 
STATE ALSO FOR PRM 
NSC FOR GAVIN 
LONDON FOR POL - LORD 
PARIS FOR POL - BAIN AND KANEDA 
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL PGOV CD
SUBJECT:  IOM/Chad: Tonneau meetings with Chadian Officials; 
Progress on Resettlement Capacity; No signed MOU yet. 
 
REF: N'DJAMENA 469 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (SBU) Michele Tonneau, Geneva-based Chief of Movement Management 
Division, Operations Support Department for the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) visited Chad from November 2-6 to 
sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Chad on 
behalf of IOM.  Due to the unexpected unavailability of the Minister 
of Foreign Affairs, Tonneau left without a signed MOU.  However, IOM 
did hold productive meetings with government and international 
organization officials in both N'Djamena and Abeche.  The Accra and 
N'Djamena Refcoords met with IOM and discussed progress on 
establishing resettlement operations, and Accra-based Refugee 
Coordinator accompanied IOM to Abeche.  The government officials at 
various levels stressed the importance of security and information 
campaigns.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------------- 
MEETING LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OUADDAI; 
IOM IS NOT ANOTHER ZOE'S ARC 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Accra-based Refugee Coordinator, Michel Tonneau, IOM 
Regional Operations Officer William Lorenz and acting Chief of 
Mission for IOM Chad/Senior Regional Medical Officer Qasim Sufi 
travelled to Abeche, Chad on November 5.  The group met with 
Delegate for the Ouaddai region of the National Commission for the 
Welcome and Reinsertion of Refugees (Commission Nationale d'Accueil 
et de Reinsertion des Refugies -- "CNAR"), Mr. Hassan Ali Osman; the 
recently-installed Governor of Ouaddai region, Mr. Kedallah Younous 
Hamid; the Deputy Governor of Ouaddai region, Mr. Djako Tamaga; and 
the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General 
(DSRSG), Ms. Rima Salah.  Refcoord was unable to attend the MINURCAT 
meeting.  Although in separate meetings, the CNAR delegate, Deputy 
Governor and Governor each delivered a uniform message: they support 
refugee resettlement and believe that a large-scale program is 
feasible, as long as appropriate security measures are taken.  They 
noted that a sensitization and information campaign is necessary as 
a security measure, particularly to combat misinformation and to 
ensure that resettlement is not mistaken for trafficking or "another 
Zoe's Arc."  They suggested that the sensitization and training of 
the CNAR staff members include visits to resettlement sites in the 
U.S. so they can fully understand the program. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The group also visited the refugee transit center in 
Abeche, currently housing the remaining 60 refugees approved for 
resettlement under the pilot program underway during the past year 
and waiting for final clearances before travel to the US. 
Non-functioning or ill-functioning water standpipes and pumps had 
been repaired (Reftel) providing an appropriate supply of water. 
 
----------- 
GOC-IOM MOU 
------------- 
¶4. (SBU)  The primary objective of Tonneau's visit was to sign a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of Chad. 
Negotiations on the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between 
IOM and the GoC had already been completed.  The MOU was to 
establish IOM's official presence in Chad, confer diplomatic 
privileges and immunities, and establish protocols with the 
government.  The MOU was to be a precursor to Chad membership in IOM 
(for which IOM anticipates the GoC will make a formal request in 
January).  The signing had been scheduled with the Minister of 
Foreign Affairs to take place at the beginning of Tonneau's visit. 
However, the signing was repeatedly postponed and Tonneau departed 
without having signed the MOU.  No official reason was given, and 
there are no indications that there are any concerns over the MOU. 
The signing has not yet been rescheduled and it is not certain who 
will sign on behalf of IOM. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  IOM's work in Chad will continue despite the absence of 
an MOU and the resultant diplomatic status.  However, several key 
actions will be delayed.  IOM has been waiting for its diplomatic 
 
NDJAMENA 00000542  002 OF 002 
 
 
status to submit an official written request to government officials 
in Abeche to obtain land for a refugee transit center with a 
capacity to house up to 1,000 refugees (much larger than the current 
site) and a possible site for the office and residential compound 
(as a possible alternative to building at the current transit center 
site).  Construction would need to begin before the end of the 
calendar year in order to have operational facilities for group 
resettlement processing by spring 2010.  The MOU is also necessary 
for IOM to officially name a Chief of Mission and have IOM begin to 
operate autonomously, where they currently rely on the good offices 
of UNDP or UNHCR.  The MOU and diplomatic status would also clarify 
IOM's presence in Chad in advance of information campaigns. 
 
---------------------------- 
IOM PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING 
OPERATIONAL CAPACITY 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  IOM has made some progress in improving their capacity in 
Chad (Reftel).  The existing international staff includes an Acting 
Officer in Charge, Security Officer, and two Operations Officers. 
Over the next week, the staff will be joined by a Senior Operations 
Officer, IT officer, and Senior Accountant.  While some positions 
had been filled prior to Tonneau's visit, Tonneau was actively 
calling and recruiting other individuals to serve in Chad. 
 
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COMMENT 
-------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Given the uniformity of the statements during the separated 
meetings with GoC officials in Abeche, it is possible that all three 
received talking points from CNAR Secretary General Mahamat Nour 
Abdoulaye.  We do agree that security is paramount and an 
information campaign is planned.  At the same time, we need to 
recognize that some officials' requests may be driven by a desire 
for attention and perks, such as international travel.  In later 
stages of refugee resettlement processing, it may be possible for 
some CNAR officials to visit the U.S. as part of the program, 
following a model used in other resettlement programs.  Where 
appropriate and possible, IOM may employ such individuals to escort 
resettlement flights.  End comment. 
 
¶8. (SBU)  Craig Murphy, the incoming Senior Operations Officer, was 
formerly employed at the Joint Voluntary Agencies in Nairobi, and 
most recently has been working for IOM based in Amman and managing 
the Overseas Processing Entity in Baghdad.  He thus appears to have 
experience in logistically complex environments with security 
challenges.  The arrival of the accounting and IT officers will help 
establish the physical plant and allow IOM to move from a hotel to a 
proper office.  We will continue to monitor IOM's progress in 
establishing and improving their resettlement processing capacity in 
Chad. 
 
¶9.  (U)  Minimize considered. 
 
NIGRO