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Cablegate: Follwong Defeats, Saf May Counterattack in North Darfur

VZCZCXRO4071
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2519 2921052
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191052Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4967
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002519

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO MOPS AU SU

SUBJECT: FOLLWONG DEFEATS, SAF MAY COUNTERATTACK IN NORTH DARFUR

REF: KHARTOUM 2469

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Military confrontations along the Chad-Sudan
border continue, as reports and troop movements indicate that the
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) may imminently launch a counterattack
against Justice and Equality (JEM)/National Redemption Front (NRF)
rebels near Tina. The SAF suffered a defeat there on October 7 and
have already retaliated by bombing the village of Hamara, in Chad,
on October 10.

--------------------------------
SAF Responds to Defeat on Border
--------------------------------

2. (SBU) On October 7, either JEM or JEM-led NRF elements under the
authority of Abdallah Banda attacked SAF positions near Tina
(reftel). The SAF claims the vehicles used in the attack bore
Chadian registration numbers. AMIS confirms that the SAF responded
by carrying out Antonov bombing raids targeting the village of
Hamara, Chad. The UN and AMIS also report continued SAF aerial
reconnaissance in the vicinity of Tina and the local SAF commander
requested that AMIS inform him of the peacekeepers' movements in
order to avoid inadvertent targeting by SAF attack helicopter or
Antonov bombers.

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3. (SBU) Reporting from both the UN and AMIS also suggests that
rebels may be preparing to attack SAF and AMIS forces positioned
near the town. AMIS reinforced its military group site at Tina with
one platoon on October 9 as a precaution.

-------------------------------------
SAF Continues to Bring Forces to Tina
-------------------------------------

4. (SBU) Government troops continue to reposition and reinforce in
the vicinity of Tina. UN contacts noted to Active Response Corps
(ARC) Officer that 17 SAF vehicles moved from Girgira to Tina on
October 11, while roughly 150 vehicles controlled by Chadian
opposition groups remained in position between the villages of Sirba
and Silea, with the likelihood the convoy would move to Tina in
support of SAF. Additional reports indicate that Chadian opposition
groups received up to 200 barrels of fuel from the GoS.

HUME

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