September snapshot:

• September 2- Russian President Medvedev approved a year-long deployment of 200 Russian military peacekeepers to support MINURCAT.
• On September 12, a “Contact group” of African countries (Gabon, Libya, Congo, Senegal, Eritrea, Chad and Sudan) met in Eritrean capital of Asmara to discuss Chad-Sudan diplomatic relations restoration and decided to go ahead with preparations for a 2,000 member (1,000 Sudanese and 1,000 Chadian) security force to protect border monitors.
• September 16- Contact group announced Chad and Sudan are to restore diplomatic ties.

September 9- Oxfam report asserts that MINURCAT and the European Union haved failed to protect civilians in Chad, stating that EUFOR is ill-equipped to combat pressing banditry and crime issues because the mandate did not include policing capabilities.

September 16- According to a follow up Oxfam report, despite EUFOR bringing greater security, it still lacks the ability to adequately police refugee camps.

September 29- Russia announces plans to supply EUFOR with four transport helicopters.

UN/Security Council:

On September 19th, Victor da Silva Angelo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINURCAT, told the Security Council that international presence after EUFOR is integral to developing any sort of security in the ever-volatile CAR/Chad region.

The Security Council is continuing to monitor the conflict situations on Chad.

[1] http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/466708/-/149fk9jz/-/

[2] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVs6D6ps2qCXhAAqBfnvTf4Sz66w

[3] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVs6D6ps2qCXhAAqBfnvTf4Sz66w

[4] http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL9650723.html

[5] http://allafrica.com/stories/200809161107.html

[6] http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2008/09/russia-to-help-eu-in-chad/62486.aspx

August snapshot:

• On August 2, Chad resumed diplomatic relations with Sudan on and re-opened embassies on conditions of no longer supporting rebels in each other’s countries.
• Over 100 Irish troops arrived in Chad begin airborne operation; deployed to five locations to asses security around border regions with Sudan.
• On August 15, Chad’s former president, Hissene Habre, was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, and 11 rebel leaders including senior leader Mahamat Nouri for violating Chad’s security as a country.

September 2008 projections

August 18- an Austrian peacekeeping patrol got caught up in gun fight on Sudan border; exposed need for greater communication among peacekeepers, the Chad security forces, and aid organizations.

August 19 - fighting in Birak region on Monday and Tuesday b/t rebels and supporters of the president killed “large numbers” of people; rebel spokesman accused the president and his ethnic group of attempting to carry out an ethnic–cleansing plan.

August 21- European peacekeepers are doing armed patrols on Sudan border and using Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to get rid of left over bombs and save Chadian civilians.

August 22-24- The Chadian Minister for Human Rights and Protection of Liberties and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for MINURCAT visited internally displaced persons in Arkoum.

UN/Security Council:

On August 4, the UN reported that MIURCAT staff members had finished training 231 Chadian policeman in law, human rights, and humanitarian practices with the goal of better protecting the approximately 250,000 refugees and 180,000 internally displaced persons/. In the middle of the month, Ban Ki-Moon publically released a report declaring that children continue to be the primary victims of the violence in Chad. Issues facing the Security Council in September are the apparent lack of progress towards political reconciliation in Chad, renewing and possibly updating MINURCAT’s mandate, and discussing a follow-up military presence after the mandate of the European force in Chad (EUFOR) expires in 2009.

[1] www.strategypage.com/qnd/chad/articles/20080821.aspx

[2] http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0813/1218477454848.html

[3] http://www.gulftimes.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=236055&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21

July snapshot:

• In the Secretary General's report released July 10, Ban ki Moon expressed distress at current rebel activity disrupting humanitarian aide. He asserted that the way forward is through “real political dialogue” between the government and non-armed rebel groups and increase talks between parties at the Chad-Sudan border.
• On July 18, the president of Sudan accepted plea of Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade and agreed to resume diplomatic relations with Chad.

July 2- Chad security forces killed 66 followers of Ahmat Ismael Bicharaan, an Islamic sheikh, after they attacked security forces in a town 185 miles southeast of the capital. Bicharaan has been accused of attempting to incite a holy war in the country

July 3- The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies pulled their aid workers from Chad after security threats.

July 8- Approximately 120 Irish troops deployed to evacuate 24 UNHCR personnel. The UNHCR was under attack by at least 10 rebels at their Kefri compound and requested assistance.

July 25- Finland sent 32 peacekeepers to relieve 38 already in Chad.

UN/Security Council:

The Security Council is expected to report on follow-up arrangements for EUFOR Chad-Central African Republic by September. Recommendations for the future UN Mission in the Central Africna Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) are expected in September as well.

[1] http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-18-voa11.cfm; http://voanews.com/english/2008-07-18-voa38.cfm

[2] http://allafrica.com/stories/200807110005.html

[3] http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02605019.htm

[4] http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03419779.htm

[5] http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0710/1215537705898.html

[6] http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/YSAR-7GVRZU?OpenDocument

June snapshot:

• Rebels continuing attempts to reach Chad's capital, N'Djamena
• The lack of cohesion among peacekeepers, combined with lagging funds and resources, is hurting peacekeeping possibilities in Chad.
• The EU force seems to not be fully living up to its promise to protect  

Security Council Report on Chad/CAR- June 2008

July 2008 Projections

June 12- rebel attack on European Union (EU) peacekeepers incited a firefight and led to the rebels temporarily taking control of the town of Goz Beida

June 17- Chad’s communication minister stated that Sudanese troops attacked the town of Ade on the Chad-Sudan border. According to the BBC, he reports that after a Darfur rebel group attacked Khartoum and the finger was pointed at Chad, “…They resolved that they would not rest until they had overthrown the government in Chad…”

June 18- Chadian army says it killed 160 rebels in Am Zoer in an effort to keep them from reaching N'Djamena .

June 19- the head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) apologized to the Irish Defense Minister on behalf of Annette Rehrl, an official who openly criticized the competency of the Irish peacekeepers. Rehrl accused the Irish of “not understanding their mandate to protect humanitarian workers”, to which officials replied that it was actually the Dutch who were responsible for the specific camps addressed by Rehrl’s statements.

UN/ Security Council:

On its trip to Africa, the Security Council discussed the deployment and follow up of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the Eurpoean Union Force (EUFOR); the mandate of the former is slated to expire in September 2008, the latter in March 2009. EUFOR should have full deployment by the end of June, but the dire situation of funding needs to be addressed, as less than one-fifth of the $290 million requested in 2008 has been implemented. Relations between Chad and Sudan and the “see-saw” of violence need to also be actively addressed.

In July, the Secretary General’s report on MINURCAT is due, although formal action is not likely until later in the year.

[1] http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKLs74WwIe-pVdjWKE_W-W6vNLQ

[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7459025.stm

[3] http://www.independent.ie.national-news/un-says-sorry-for-criticism-of-troops-in-chad-1414652.html

[4] http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/site/c.glKWLeMTIsG/b.4146969