Chad - latest developments

Chad – Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

Paris, 20 February 2008

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs clarifies the following points with regard to Chadian political figures who have been arrested or have disappeared:

1) We continue to seek information on the situation of Mr Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and Mr Ngarlejy Yorongar. Our ambassador to N’Djamena spoke again with President Déby on this matter in late this morning to signal the importance this has for the French authorities. The President of Chad assured him that that the search was continuing.

2) Mr Lol Mahamat Choua is in contact with the ICRS. He received a visit this afternoon from the European Commission delegate in N’Djamena who found him in good health. Mr Lol Mahamat Choua noted that the conditions of his detention had improved substantially since the visit by the French Ambassador on 11 February. It is not true that our ambassador to Chad said following that visit that he had found Mr Lol Mahamat Choua weaker.

3) So far as we know, General Kamougué has not been arrested. He is in regular contact with his party, the Coordination of Political Parties for the Defence of the Constitution (CPDC). The Embassy has not met him, unlike other opposition figures, also members of the CPDC, who are continuing their political activity./.

Situation in Chad – Interview given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to “RFI” and “RTL” (excerpts)

New York, 12 February 2008

(…)

EUFOR

THE MINISTER – (…) The European forces will be there to provide assistance to the displaced persons, i.e. the Chadians in Chad, who are suffering appallingly. There’s talk of around 500,000, the exact figure isn’t known. The aim is to make the area secure so that their villages can be rebuilt, without their being attacked, above all by the militia from across the border, but not just from there. The rebels’ view surprises me because they initially agreed with EUFOR’s deployment and no longer do so.

What I want is for the Chadian population to be protected by what will be the largest-ever European operation with a defence and human rights mission, but above all tasked with protecting the public. This is what the UNHCR and a number of people who can see the situation of the refugees and displaced people are asking us for. (...)

CHADIAN OPPOSITION ARRESTS

Q. – Do you have any news, are you worried about the arrest of several members of the Chadian Opposition?

THE MINISTER –Yes, I’ve got news of them all except for the three everyone is talking about. Am I worried? Yes. And we’ve asked the Chadian President and his office to give us news. And they’ve promised to do so.

I’d like to know what they are accused of; they are civilian public figures – in the midst of a terrible war of course – but they are civilians. I’d like to know what they are being charged with. If they are being charged with something, then the judicial authorities must give a ruling. But if there are no charges against them, then, as you will understand, they must be very quickly released. (…)./.

Situation in Chad – Hearing of M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, before the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee (excerpts)

Paris, 6 February 2008

M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, began by summarizing what had happened in Chad. On the night of 28/29 January, France alerted the Chadian government to the arrival, from Sudan, of a column of 350 vehicles, each containing around ten men. This had been formed through the regrouping of two rebel groups, usually enemies. They have pick-up vehicles, heavy machine-guns and rocket launchers. At the end of November 2006, a similar column had been advancing towards N’Djamena when a French “Mirage” halted its advance by firing warning shots, forcing it to turn back. President Sarkozy has refused any similar French armed forces intervention this time. Since 31 January, several crisis meetings have been held, President Sarkozy himself participating in four, and a permanent crisis unit has been set up at the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry.

Initially, President Idriss Déby seemed to have defeated the column, but it emerged that it had split into two in order to attack the capital from the north and east. The section of the column heading north proved a huge threat and in the end inflicted a defeat on the 2,000 Chadian army troops who had been sent to fight it. The chief of defence staff was killed and President Déby who had supported his men found himself isolated and only very narrowly escaped the rebels. He then returned to N’Djamena, where he took refuge in his palace. The battle raged on the bridges situated up- and downstream from the building, the regular army and rebels in turn gaining advantage.

Faced with this situation, France expressed a clear position: she would not participate in any military operation but would protect all foreign nationals under threat. Thanks to efficient preparation – the alert had been broadcast by radio on Friday, 1 February, when President Sarkozy deemed it necessary –, the foreign nationals (around 1,200 French and 700 people of other nationalities) were assembled at five locations equipped for the purpose, including two hotels. Some of them, 1,200 in total, were then transferred to the airport and subsequently evacuated to Libreville, with the aircraft making 16 round trips.

At President Déby’s request, the French armed forces began taking care of the wounded: nearly 300 injured were taken to N’Djamena hospital, where four French international service volunteers work, and around 30 more seriously injured people were transferred to the French armed forces medical centre established at the airport. The French armed forces also carried out a very delicate logistical and military operation to evacuate diplomatic personnel blocked in the many embassies located around the presidential palace where the firing was taking place. Using four helicopters, French Special Forces helped 52 German Embassy staff. Assistance was also given to the US and Chinese embassies and United Nations office. The French forces also came to the aid of the Saudi Arabians of whom two had already been killed in a bomb attack. (…)

According to International Committee of the Red Cross assessments, 200-300 civilians and 1,000-1,5000 combatants were killed. These estimates are probably a little on the high side. 50,000 Chadians took refuge in Cameroon and 2,000-3,000 in Nigeria. France has begun to provide them with medical assistance in the two countries.

Faced with a crisis in a friendly country, France offered the aid authorized under her military technical cooperation agreement, which contains no provisions regarding French troops’ participation in any fighting. So the support for President Déby principally consisted in providing intelligence, particularly information on the movements of the column which came from the North during the night of 28-29 January. It is important to reiterate that the Chadian authorities have not expressed a wish for any further aid from France.

AU/UNSC

Moreover, all the member States of the African Union, which sent a peace mission to N’Djamena, welcomed the French position. Because of this support, France asked for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Thanks to her active diplomacy and the support of the Council’s non-permanent members, a statement was adopted asking the region’s States and those present on Chadian territory to come to the aid of the legal government. (…)

EUFOR

Q. – (on deployment of the EUFOR European force)

(…) Deployment of the European force, EUFOR, was confirmed at the last Political and Security Committee (PSC) meeting held, on 6 February, in Brussels. The events which have just occurred in Chad led to this operation’s suspension until 13 February, but it now seems even more necessary. Initially, the rebel groups had declared themselves in favour of deployment of this force, designed to relieve the suffering of the region’s displaced civilians and refugees. In fact, the rebels’ position is ambiguous insofar as they are supported by the Sudanese government, which is as hostile to the United Nations-African Union hybrid force as it is to EUFOR. However, it is important for this European initiative bringing together 20 or so countries and 3,700 troops to be actually implemented if Europe’s diplomatic efforts to improve the situation in the region are not to be seriously jeopardized. (…)./.

Situation in Chad – Reply given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to a question in the National Assembly

Paris, 5 February 2008

When the attack began, there were 1,262 French nationals in N’Djamena and over 1,600 foreigners. From day one of the fighting, we asked them to gather in centres – but we didn’t compel them to, and some preferred to stay at home. Once people had assembled, there were 14 flights between N’Djamena and Libreville, where 1,200 people found refuge and were looked after by our diplomats, our troops, NGOs and the Red Cross. Two flights to Paris were then organized from Libreville, and a third will arrive tomorrow. In all, some 1,000 people will thus have returned to our capital, thanks to the courage of our troops, our diplomats and aid workers, whom I thank. No one was wounded, apart from two soldiers who were slightly hurt. Our troops also gave assistance to the injured in the streets – 200 on Friday and another 50 on Saturday; there were two deaths at the Saudi Arabian embassy, I salute their memory. Our troops evacuated and provided protection for the staff of the German, American and Chinese embassies, and the United Nations representation in N’Djamena.

Peace must now be restored. So the government welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s firm statement and the encouragement received from the African Union. France, who is in favour of a ceasefire, isn’t providing any direct assistance in the battle. She is convinced that the deployment of the EUFOR mission in Chad in a few days’ time is the best way of helping the civilians./.

Chad – Statements made by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, during his joint press briefing with Mr Ahmad Allam-mi, Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (excerpts)

Paris, 5 February 2008

(…)

Q. – Do you think that the Security Council’s presidential statement gives you a legal framework to intervene directly in a conflict?

THE MINISTER – The Security Council’s statement gives backing for the countries providing their support, whatever it may be, to the legal government and in the forms specified in the statement. That’s all I can say.

(…)

Q. – You said the situation is chaotic; can one really contemplate deploying EUFOR?

THE MINISTER – Not only can we contemplate it, but we’re going to do it. The need for it is increasing every day. There were two meetings, yesterday and the day before yesterday, in Brussels. No one is calling anything into question. The reasons for it are even better understood today. (…)

In this region, EUFOR’s mission is very clear. It’s to bring security to the area where there are both UNHCR-assisted refugees and refugees who aren’t getting assistance. The UNHCR is doing what it can, but it doesn’t have a mandate for this. There are hundreds of thousands of displaced Chadians.

These people have even more need of EUFOR than before. The first elements of the EUFOR mission have already arrived. You must ask Irish General Nash, who commands the mission and whose HQ is in Paris. The deployment’s going to be delayed a few extra days, but EUFOR is vitally necessary.

This mission absolutely must take place, since if there are no peace talks, if there are no political solutions, the whole situation will obviously remain very chaotic and very dangerous. (…)./.

Signing of a framework agreement on cooperation between France and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Statements by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, during his joint press conference with Mr António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (excerpts)

Paris, 4 February 2008

(…)

Q. – I wanted to come back to the Security Council. You now have the legal framework we were lacking to intervene directly in Chad. Are you ready to intervene in the event of the rebels returning to N’Djamena? Has President Déby asked you to?

THE MINISTER – We’re very satisfied with the speed at which the Security Council presidential statement was obtained. Indeed, we began working yesterday and very fast. We thought that on the part of some there would be varying degrees of reluctance, a lot rather than a little. There was none.

The situation was very clear for everyone. The presidential statement came after the African Union’s statement, which was very strong and obtained unanimously.

So there were some violent words to describe this brutal attack and rebel intrusion against a twice-elected president, with a legitimate government.

So there you are, this is all we wanted and we don’t intend putting French troops on any higher alert than they are at the moment or embarking on military operations. That isn’t our intention. Not at all.

For example, was evacuating our UNHCR friends and those trapped in the United States embassy a military operation?

Yes, it was. But it was also a humanitarian one and had to be carried out. The need was felt to express clearly that rebels were attacking a legal government. That’s been done. And beyond that, we very much hope not to have to intervene to a greater extent.

When we had to defend the airport – for a very short time, moreover – our forces did so very swiftly and effectively. But why did we do it? Because there were hundreds of people who had left the city and wanted to be protected and evacuated to Paris. (…)./.

Chad – Interview given to BBC World by M. Jean-Maurice Ripert, France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

New York, 4 February 2008

Q. – First of all: is France happy with this resolution that has been adopted by the Security Council?

M. RIPERT – "Happy" is not the word I would use, due to the context of the situation in Chad. But “satisfied”, yes, we are very satisfied. Chad is coping with an aggression by rebel groups which are trying to seize the power by force. The international community has decided unanimously in the Security Council of the United Nations to condemn this aggression, to support the African Union in its efforts to bring an end to the violence and the fights. And also to call upon all member States of the UN to provide support to the legal authorities of Chad. We think it is very important. We have, very rapidly, to put an end to that situation. At least for one reason which is to be in a position again to deploy the United Nations operation, the humanitarian operation that we were on our way to deploy, which means the UN troops and the European troops which will be deployed to secure the East region of Chad where you have more than 500,000 refugees and internally displaced persons.

Q. – The resolution, as you say calls all member States to provide support as requested by the government of Chad. Does France take that as a green light now to give military assistance to the government of Chad to repel this rebellion?

M. RIPERT – France has a military cooperation agreement with the Chadian government and we already provided some cooperation, for instance in the medical field to heal the wounded. And also, of course, we have troops, as you know, in Abéché and N’Djamena. Those troops have been very useful in securing the situation of the international community in N’Djamena. We have evacuated more than 880 people in a few nights. We have protected embassies, we have protected humanitarian workers, UN personnel. So, we already are present.

What will the government be doing? I don’t know. I mean the President will make the decision. But what is important is what we stated in the Security Council yesterday. We received yesterday a request by the Chadian authorities for help by the international community and for the Security Council to get involved. What we have done this morning is to authorize the member States to respond to that call in conformity with the UN Charter obligations. This is very clear.

Q. – Mr Ambassador, my understanding is that upon until this point the French military in Ndjamena has not been engaged in offensive operation…

M. RIPERT – That is correct.

Q. – Can we expect that now to happen?

M. RIPERT – I don‘t know. You have to ask the French President. I don’t know what President Déby will ask the French and the rest of the world. I have no idea.

Q. – But if such a request was forthcoming from President Déby?

M. RIPERT – You know, that it is very clear: I am ambassador in New York. I am not working with the President right now, so I don’t know what would be his answer. You have to ask his staff.

Q. – France has not observed this kind in neutrality in previous conflicts, a couple of years ago, France had intervened to stop the advance of rebels’ convoy in N’Djamena?

M. RIPERT – Well that is your judgement. What I can do is to repeat the commitment of President Sarkozy to have a new approach to African policy: to support legal authorities, to support the constitution of Chad and support the constitutional authorities of Chad. This is what will be our line in the next weeks.

Q. – So the presidential statement calls on all States to respect their common border. My understanding is that perhaps France would have liked to name Sudan and Chad. Is France of the view that Sudan is backing the Chadian rebels?

M. RIPERT – Obviously, those rebels have been helped. And this is why we have this call to all States in the region to abide by their obligations. There are some agreements between Chad and Sudan. They were signed under the mediation of the AU, some of them in Libya for instance. And we call on everybody to respect their obligations.

What I must underline is the fact that, we have enjoyed a very good and very trustful cooperation with the African member States of the Security Council: South Africa, Libya, and Burkina Faso. France has been working with them together, hand in hand, to achieve the result of this Presidential Statement.

Q. – But, do you believe Sudan is backing the rebels?

M. RIPERT – I think it’s not the important point today. The important point is that the international community will be helping the Government of Chad, facing those rebels. Whoever does that should stop it, should abide by their obligations and there will be peace again in this region.

Q. – But it becomes important if you subscribe to the view that this rebellion began just before the deployment of a European force to police the common border between Chad and Sudan? Maybe that was an attempt to disrupt the deployment of that force?

M. RIPERT – Except for one point, which was that the operation of the UN is not meant to police the border region. The police operation is made to secure the situation within the camps, to protect the civilian population, the refugees, the IDPs against all kind of violence, especially violence against women, who are in a very difficult situation. And to secure the region, not the border. It has nothing to do with the UN and with the European Union.

The fact that some people don’t want to see too many international workers, too many countries present, and too many people seeing what is happening is probably right.

Q. - And that would be the Sudanese government?

M. RIPERT – If I don’t say any specific things about any country, probably it is on purpose.

Q. – Is it your understanding that President Déby needs outside support any longer?

M. RIPERT – It’s very difficult to answer this question. I am not a military expert and I am not in N’Djamena. What I understand from our embassy, which I had on the phone this morning, is that the situation in N’Djamena is quiet now. There were still some fights around the city. What is exactly the position of the governmental forces and how successful they will be in repelling the rebel groups far away from N’Djamena, I don’t know. What would be the help that Déby will ask for, I do not know either. What I know is that he wrote yesterday to the Security Council to ask for help. This is what we had to answer, and that is what we did.

Q. – Has France given any thought to why President Déby seems to be facing these constant rebellions? What is it about his government which seems to attract such rebellions?

M. RIPERT – This has to do with internal politics. That is not the concern of the Security Council right now. What is important is that there was an agreement, this summer, of all parties in Chad to talk and to solve their divergences by a political dialogue. Obviously, some groups have gone back on their commitments./.

Situation in Chad – Interview given by M. Hervé Morin, Minister of Defence, to the “Le Figaro” newspaper (excerpts)

Paris, 4 February 2008

(…)

Q. – Can Sudan’s air support for the rebels yesterday in Adré justify France intervening in the framework of the agreements signed with N’Djamena?

THE MINISTER – We have no confirmation of such support. Our armed forces haven’t detected this. The military cooperation agreement linking us to Chad relates to logistics and health [military hospital]. We’re honouring our commitments, given that we’re worried and want Chad’s integrity to be preserved. France can intervene only in the framework of a particular agreement, like a defence agreement, or in that of a mandate entrusted to her by the UN to ensure the integrity of Chad and of the legitimate government.

Q. – And if, as they’re threatening to, the rebels attack N’Djamena international airport, which is being used for evacuating foreigners?

THE MINISTER – We are holding the airport and protecting it because our compatriots’ security depends on it. For us it’s an essential point.

Q. – What solution is France advocating?

THE MINISTER – We are keen for Chad to preserve her integrity. The aim of France’s action is to prevent a bloodbath. For the moment, no one wants to negotiate, neither President Déby nor the rebels. The situation is worrying us and so we’re discussing it with the member States of the UN Security Council.

Q. – What role can the Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi, play?

THE MINISTER – Libya, who has a major role to play in the region, can exert all her influence to ensure that Chad’s integrity is preserved. She can also play a role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council so that the legitimate government remains in power.

EUFOR

Q. – Is EUFOR’s deployment compromised?

THE MINISTER – No, on the contrary, this makes it more justifiable than ever for there to be a European force to ensure the stability and security of Chad, and particularly Eastern Chad. Its deployment is suspended only to the extent that we have other priorities, particularly transporting our nationals to Libreville./.

Situation in Chad – Interview given by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to the “Le Journal du Dimanche” weekly newspaper (excerpts)

Paris, 3 February 2008

Q. – What’s France’s position faced with the situation?

THE MINISTER – The legitimate, elected Chadian government is threatened by attacks perpetrated by armed groups, also Chadian, coming from a neighbouring country. Civilians are threatened. So France’s position is that there has to be an end to the bloodshed, a truce and negotiation. Under no circumstances are we in favour of a possible violent seizure of power as has happened several times in that country. French troops aren’t involved in the fighting between Chadians, some of whom are from Idriss Déby’s own family.

Q. – Yet there are defence agreements between France and Chad?

THE MINISTER – No, but there are technical military cooperation agreements which under no circumstances allow us to take sides in a conflict between Chadians.

Q. – But was it France’s duty to support an ally?

THE MINISTER – We’ve condemned the attack. The situation remains uncertain. We’ve called for the fighting to stop and resumption of the political dialogue, with President Déby’s agreement. We worked with him yesterday, all night, and today, telephoning him frequently. President Sarkozy has talked to him three times, again yesterday evening. President Déby has asked us to honour our agreement, in particular by taking care of the injured, which we’re doing. The decision has been taken: our support for the Chadian authorities – which remains – precludes direct participation in the fighting. (…)

EUFOR

Q. – Doesn’t this compromise EUFOR’s deployment?

THE MINISTER – I don’t think so. We’ve had to halt very temporarily the departure of the first Austrian and Irish soldiers, but we know that this French proposal, which became a European idea, is becoming increasingly accepted. It was the subject of a United Nations Security Council resolution which was passed unanimously. Because obviously we absolutely have to protect the civilians. (…)./.

Decision on the situation in Chad as adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa from 31 January to 2 February 2008

Addis Ababa, 2 February 2008

The Assembly:

1. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the attacks perpetrated by armed groups against the Chadian Government and DEMANDS that an immediate end be put to these attacks and resulting bloodshed;

2. RECALLS its rejection of any unconstitutional change in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, Algeria’s Decision, the Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Change of Government and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and STRESSES that no authority that comes to power by force will be recognised by the AU;

3. CALLS ON all Chadian parties to unconditionally renounce the use of force and engage in constructive dialogue aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the problem facing their country;

4. UNDERSCORES its commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness and CALLS ON all the countries of the region to comply with the principles of the African Union on respect for the unity and territorial integrity of Member States;

6. MANDATES the Libyan Leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and to initiate effort aimed at seeking a lasting solution to the crisis./.

General Affairs and External Relations Council – Preliminary statement made by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, at his press conference (excerpts)

Brussels, 28 January 2008

EUFOR/CHAD/CAR

(…) Today we got an agreement on the EUFOR operation for Chad and the Central African Republic. Not only is the operation agreed but it’s going to get under way. 14 European countries are now involved, there will be others, we must keep up the effort. The financing was agreed, with very generous contributions from the countries not wanting to participate directly by sending troops, in particular Britain and Germany. I believe there are now no more obstacles to a deployment in the next few days – I hope as soon as possible – to come to the aid of the displaced persons in Chad coming from Sudan. What Jan Eliasson, the United Nations special envoy [to Darfur] (who is working with the African Union’s Salim Ahmed Salim), told us has given us grounds for hope. His report was pretty optimistic, but we don’t know at what moment the bulk of the troops will be deployed, even though Egyptian soldiers are already on their way. There’s a growing number of obstacles on the Sudanese side and we want there to be regular contact between the EUFOR mission in Chad and United Nations-African Union mission in Sudan, regular contact so that help can be given to civilians on both sides of the border, because it’s also a development mission – which the European forces won’t be involved in, of course, but which the NGOs and charities are going to carry out, such as rebuilding the villages. (…)./.