Cablegate: Chad: 1987 Annual Terrorism Report

P 021507Z MAR 88
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9351

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 01239

S/CT FOR WHARTON

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER LY CD
SUBJECT: CHAD: 1987 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 42378

1. CHAD DOES NOT ENGAGE IN OR SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM. RATHER, THIS COUNTRY HAS LONG BEEN THE TARGET
OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT OR SPONSORED BY LIBYA,
WHOSE ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HABRE REGIME
AND THE EXPANSION OF LIBYAN HEGEMONY SOUTHWARD.

2. LIBYAN TERRORISM HAS BEEN LARGELY INEFFECTIVE OVER
THE PAST YEAR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF ITS OWN INCOMPE-
TENCE, THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES OF ACCESS TO THIS
ISOLATED LAND, AND (MOST IMPORTANT), THE TIRELESS EFFORTS
OF THE CHADIAN SECURITY SERVICES, WHICH FOILED SEVERAL
ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES INTO THE COUNTRY.

3. DURING 1987, ONLY TWO ATTEMPTS AT TERRORISM WERE IN
ANY WAY SUCCESSFUL IN CHAD. IN MARCH 1987, A LIBYAN-
SPONSORED TERRORIST ATTEMPTED TO DESTROY A BRIDGE CONNECT-
ING NDJAMENA TO KOUSSERI IN CAMEROUN. THE TERRORIST DID
SUCCEED IN BLOWING HIMSELF UP, BUT ONLY DAMAGED THE
BRIDGE, WHICH WAS BACK IN LIMITED OPERATION WITHIN HOURS.
IN OCTOBER 1987, A BUILDING BELONGING TO AN AMERICAN
PRIVATE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION IN THE PROVINCIAL TOWN OF
MOUNDOU WAS DAMAGED BY AN EXPLOSION FOR WHICH LOCAL
AUTHORITIES BELIEVE LIBYAN-INSPIRED TERRORISTS WERE
RESPONSIBLE.

BLANE

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