US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA589

C O N F I D E N T I A L  NDJAMENA 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, DRL, INR, P/M, LONDON AND PARIS 
FOR AFRICAWATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, MARR, PGOV, CD, VIP Visits, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: GENERAL WALD COMES TO CHAD 
 
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Kathleen FitzGibbon for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: General Wald, Deputy Commander, U.S. 
European Command, visited the U.S.-trained Pan Sahel Unit and 
held meetings with President Idriss Deby, Minister of Defense 
Emmanuel Nadingar, and Chief of Defense Mahamat Saleh Kaya 
during his trip to Chad from April 10 to 11.  President Deby 
reviewed with General Wald the terrorist threats facing Chad 
and appealed for international support to assist Chad in 
meeting the threat.  Wald told President Deby that the U.S. 
will be continuing its training of Chadian forces over the 
long term.  During his visit, Wald heard about the upcoming 
review of the Chadian military, which is set to begin on 
April 15.  Wald also saw that U.S. military training is a 
great source of pride for the Chadian military and a solid 
basis for future collaboration.  End Summary. 
 
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PAN-SAHEL UNIT VISIT 
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2.  (C) Wald received a warm welcome from the Anti-Terrorism 
Unit (ATU) of the Chadian military that was trained under the 
Pan-Sahel Initiative in June and July 2004.  The unit's 
designation was changed from the PSI unit to the ATU in 
August of 2004.  It consists of 173 soldiers, 13 vehicles, 
150 AK-47s, 12 PKMs, 6 RPG 7s, 16 radios, 16 GPSs, 17 
binoculars, and 35 compasses.  The unit had just returned 
from a six-week mission to southeastern Chad two hours prior 
to Wald's arrival.  Wald reviewed the troops, U.S.-provided 
Toyota trucks, and radio equipment.  He talked with the 
soldiers about their experiences on missions.  The soldiers 
showed him how they pack everything that they need, including 
luggage, water, fuel, weapons, and ammunition into the back 
of the pick-ups.  Each truck also carries fifteen soldiers on 
top of the vehicle.  Wald was surprised to hear no one had 
ever fallen off.  The soldiers indicated that they were ready 
for more training. 
 
3.  (C) In his briefing, Republican Guard Commander Col. 
Abakar Itno described the potential threats in northern Chad, 
the southern oil producing area, along the border with Sudan 
and the Central African Republic.  He also described the 
difficulty controlling Chad's numerous frontiers against 
rebels, the GSPC, contraband, and other clandestine traffic. 
In addition to refugees, the Darfur crisis has brought 
environmental damage, arms traffic, conflict with local 
populations, and jandjaweed incursions.  The Chadian military 
also is concerned that the instability in Darfur will have a 
spillover effect in Chad and that it could also make the 
country vulnerable to an influx of terrorism, contraband, and 
to the transit of Islamic fundamentalists on its border with 
Sudan. 
 
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PRESIDENT DEBY 
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4. (C)  President Idris Deby expressed appreciation for U.S. 
military assistance in his meeting with General Wald on April 
10.  Deby hoped that Chad's bilateral relationship with the 
United States could return to the level of cooperation 
experienced in the 1980s.  He noted that the Chadian military 
is already benefiting from closer ties and said that many of 
Chad's top officers and engineers were trained in the U.S. 
Deby said that Chad has helped the international community's 
fight against terrorism and that Chad is very happy with the 
training it has received. 
 
5.  (C) Despite these initiatives, Deby continued, Chad is a 
large country and the number of troops trained to date are 
not enough to counter its many external and internal threats. 
 According to Deby, the Darfur crisis presents opportunities 
for terrorists to infiltrate groups to cause harm to Chad. 
He pointed out that in neighboring Nigeria, there are foreign 
non-governmental organizations that provide cover for 
terrorist activities.  Even in Niger, which is experiencing 
positive political change, there are extremist religious 
 
leaders that hold key constitutencies.  Major American oil 
companies with a significant investment in Chad are also 
vulnerable.  Deby pointed out that no country can face all 
these challenges alone and that a combined effort is required 
to defeat these threats.  Chad is looking for ways and means, 
but lacks equipment and training to match the size of the 
threat.  He expressed his satisfaction that the international 
community is incorporating the entire Sahel in its plans. 
 
6.  (C) General Wald praised the Chadian military's efforts 
against the GSPC and told Deby he was encouraged by Chad's 
willingness to participate in U.S. training programs.  Wald 
said the U.S. European Command will continue its training 
initiatives, with a focus on the interoperability of various 
militaries.  Wald announced that Chad will be the first 
country in which the U.S. begins its Trans-Sahara 
Counter-Terrorism Training Initiative (TSCTI).  He hopes that 
the TSCTI will including training over extended periods of 
time, perhaps from five to ten years, that will be 
complemented by information sharing, development of 
communications interoperability, and various training 
exercises.  Wald emphasized that democracy, transparency, and 
a professional military are important to attracting 
additional U.S. cooperation. EUCOM also has programs for oil 
pipeline security, something that might be useful for Chad. 
 
7.  (C) Wald asked Deby about security in the Gulf of Guinea, 
where Chad's oil pipeline reaches the sea.  Deby replied that 
the issue has only just begun to be discussed among 
neighboring countries.  It was raised at the last summit of 
Central African countries, according to Deby, but no common 
strategy or policy has been established. 
 
8.  (C)  Wald praised Chad's willingness to conduct a review 
of its military.  Deby said that the current army is an 
amalgamation of various opposition groups that came to power 
with the government in 1990.  They were kept in the military, 
but now the government is looking for ways to downsize the 
army to an appropriate size, clarify the military's mission 
and objectives, and transform the military into a national 
force. 
 
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CHIEF OF DEFENSE MAHAMAT SALEH KAYA 
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9.  (C)  On April 11, General Wald met with Chief of Defense 
Staff General Mahamat Saleh Kaya.  Wald said he was impressed 
that the Chadian military is conducting a review of its size, 
composition, needs, and objectives.  Wald told Kaya that the 
United States would like the TSCTI to be continuous and span 
a five to ten year period.  He also stressed the importance 
of improving the interoperability of military forces in the 
region.  Kaya described the Chadian military's relations with 
neighboring countries, like Niger, as good.  However, Chad is 
concerned about problems with Sudan.  Kaya also said that 
Chad needs an adequately paid, trained, and equipped military 
to best ensure the country's security.  He also pointed out 
that all over Africa, there are poorly paid and trained 
militaries in countries with political instability.  Kaya 
thanked General Wald for continuing U.S. training, but 
remarked that ultimately, it is the good will of the 
population that will win the war on terror. 
 
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MINISTER OF DEFENSE 
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10.  (C) In meetings with Defense Minister Emmanual Nadingar 
on April 10 and 11, Wald discussed the importance of the 
military conducting a review of its role in society and areas 
for improvement and noted that Chad is one of the few 
countries in his area of responsibility that is carrying one 
out.  Nadingar expressed Chad's interest in continuing 
collaboration.  Wald told the Defense Minister that the ATU's 
success has demonstrated to the U.S. Government that Chad is 
a good partner.  He also informed Nadingar that Chad will be 
receiving more U.S. training.  He praised the Chadian 
military's operations in the north against the GSPC. Nadingar 
 
agreed that the GSPC operation represented a new challenge 
for Chad and that more assistance is needed to help Chad 
avoid and suppress any future incursions.  Nadingar also 
raised the issue of the possibility of obtaining spare parts 
for  Chad's C-130 aircraft.  He expressed appreciation for 
General Wald's previous comments that the U.S. would find 
ways to support the recommendations of the upcoming military 
review.  The Defense Minister also requested assistance with 
providing two professors to conduct English language training 
with the Chadian military.  He noted that downsizing and 
reinsertion of troops into society also will require support. 
 Nadingar also told Wald that he hoped this would not be his 
last visit to Chad. 
 
- - - - 
COMMENT 
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11.  (C)  Chadian officials were very pleased with General 
Wald's visit.  It reinforced our current military 
collaboration and laid the foundation for future training 
opportunities. 
12.  (U) General Wald did not have an opportunity to clear 
this cable prior to departure. 
 
13.  (U) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize Considered. 
WALL 
 
 
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