Cablegate: Chad: No Progress On Detained Amcit

VZCZCXRO2121
RR RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0807 2901537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171537Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5800
INFO RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1437
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1742
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 3002
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2261
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0436
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1619

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000807

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV PTER PREL CD LY
SUBJECT: CHAD: NO PROGRESS ON DETAINED AMCIT

REF: NDJAMENA 798

1. (SBU) No progress has been made in the more than five
days of contacts between members of the Chadian Tubu
community and the MDJT rebel group currently holding Amcit
Steve Godbolt in Zoumri, northern Chad. The local Radio
France International (RFI) reporter had agreed to temporarily
hold off on releasing the story at the request of Godbolt's
colleagues in N'Djamena in order to let these discussions run
their course. However, we understand that RFI will break the
story today.

2. (U) The incident has received no press coverage locally.
A posting on the Paris-based Chadian opposition website
Al-Wihda (widely read throughout N'Djamena) from the FLST
(Libyan Front for the Promotion of the Libyan Tubus) states
that an American (not named) had been seized by Libyan
intelligence agents with the support of the MDJT, headed by
Choua Dazi. The FLST release states that the American had
defended the cause of the oppressed Libyan Tubus, and for
this reason had been the target of the Libyan authorities.

2. (SBU) Godbolt's colleagues in N'Djamena reported to CDA
that the Libya-based MDJT leader Choua Dazi has insisted that
he will only talk to "Americans" concerning the detention.
(Note: They have heard this second-hand through the Tubu
acquaintances who have attempted to intervene on behalf of
Godbolt. End note)

3. (SBU) Post will send a diplomatic note to the Government
of Chad alerting them to the situation and asking for their
assistance in seeking the release of Godbolt. We note that
the Government of Chad has historically had a small
administrative presence (and weak authority) throughout much
of the MDJT-dominated Tibesti region.

4. Minimized considered.
TAMLYN

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