Cablegate: Chad Chronicle: Oct 6-10

VZCZCXRO3232
RR RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0466 2841146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101146Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6507
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1727
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1541
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2341
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0486
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0520
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1787
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1007

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000466

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF, AF/C, AF/EPS,
AND AF/RSA
ADDIS ALSO FOR AU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF ECON PHUM UN LY CT CD
SUBJECT: CHAD CHRONICLE: Oct 6-10

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1. ECONOMY
-------------------------------------

TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE
CHAD/CAMEROON OIL PIPELINE, THE CHADIAN GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED A THREE
DAY CONFERENCE DUBBED "CHAD INTERNATIONAL OIL, MINING AND
ENERGY"(CIOME 2008) WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ATTRACTING INVESTORS TO
NUMEROUS POSSIBILITIES IN THE OIL, MINING AND ENERGY SECTORS.

IN HIS OPENING REMARKS PRESIDENT DEBY SAID THAT "NATURE HAS ENDOWED
CHAD'S UNDERGROUND WITH MANY VARIETIES OF RESOURCES. IT IS NOT TOO
MUCH TO SAY THAT CHAD IS A GEOLOGICAL WONDER. IT IS OUR DUTY TO PUT
TO GOOD USE THESE RESOURCES, TO MANAGE THEM PROPERLY AND RIGOROUSLY
WITH TRANSPARENCY IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF
OUR POPULATION". HE ADDED THAT UNFORTUNATELY INSECURITY DRIVEN BY
FOREIGN POWERS (SUDAN) HAS CAUSED THE GOVERNMENT TO DIVERT SOME OIL
REVENUE RESOURCES FROM SOCIAL PURPOSES TO NATIONAL DEFENSE.

----------------------------------------
2. INSECURITY IN THE EAST
--------------------------------------------
-- L'OBSERVATEUR (INDEPENDENT NEWSAPER) OF OCT. 08, 2008 REPORTED
THAT FIGHTING HAS RESUMED IN THE EAST. IT CHARGED SUDAN WITH
PROVIDING REBELS WITH AMMUNITION. IT ADDED THAT NGOS CONFIRMED THAT
THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE EAST HAS "NO COMPARISON" TO THE PAST
INSECURITY IN THE AREA. ACCORDING TO THE SAME ARTICLE, A
HIGH-RANKING WORLD BANK OFFICIAL, SPEAKING ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY
(FROM WASHINGTON), SAID THAT WESTERN DIPLOMATS ARE TALKING ABOUT
CHAD AFTER THE REIGN OF IDRISS DEBY. ADDITIONALLY, DEBY REPORTEDLY
HAD A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE WHO ADVISED
HIM TO LEAVE POWER. COMMENT: WE REPORT THIS MIXTURE OF FACTS AND
ALLEGATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY NEWS THAT MANY PEOPLE RECEIVE.
OBVIOUSLY IT REFLECTS THE ANTI-REGIME BIAS OF THE PAPER. END
COMMENT.

-- SEVERAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING "MEDECIN SANS
FRONTIERES" AND THE RED CROSS, HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED WORK IN
THE EASTERN TOWNS OF GOZ BEIDA, ADE AND DOGDORE. THE U.N.
HUMANITARIAN OFFICE SAYS THAT AID WORKERS IN EASTERN CHAD HAVE BEEN
ATTACKED BY BANDITS OVER 120 TIMES THIS YEAR, HAMPERING EFFORTS TO
BRING FOOD AND OTHER RELIEF TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED
PEOPLE.

--------------------------------------------
3. POLITICS
--------------------------------------------
--THE CHADIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OPENED ITS ORDINARY SESSION ON OCT.
06. THE MAIN ISSUE FOR THE SESSION IS ADOPTION OF THE 2009 BUDGET.
ALSO, THE ASSEMBLY WILL CONSIDER LAWS, WHICH INCLUDE THE PROTECTION
OF CONSUMER RIGHTS, THE CREATION OF A YOUTH FUND, AND AUTHORIZATION
OF ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY FACULTIES.

-- THE PARTY OF IBNI OUMAR SALEH, THE CHADIAN POLITICAL LEADER WHO
DISAPPEARED DURING THE CRISIS IN FEBRUARY 2008, ASKED DURING A PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT THE BODY OF IBNI BE GIVEN TO THE FAMILY FOR A PROPER
FUNERAL.

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4. SOCIAL
-------------------------------------
N'DJAMENA IS WITHOUT FULL ELECTRICITY FOR 10 DAYS, OCTOBER 04 TO
OCTOBER 13 WHILE THE PRINCIPAL GENERATOR IS BEING MAINTAINED.
DURING THAT PERIOD AN OLD GENERATOR WILL PROVIDE LIMITED POWER TO
SOME AREAS OF THE CITY.

ZINA ALKHALIL WAS NAMED MISS CHAD FOR 2008. SHE WILL REPRESENT CHAD
IN REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONTESTS. THE MERE HOLDING OF SUCH A GALA
EVENT IN CONSERVATIVE, LARGELY MULIM, NDJAMENA INDICATES THAT A
VIABLE SUBSET OF CHADIANS IS FULLY ATTUNED TO MODERN GLOBAL CULTURE.

GRIBBIN

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