VZCZCXRO1038
RR RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0526/01 3191116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141116Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6574
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1734
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1546
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2347
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0506
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0523
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1791
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1010
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000526
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: Nov 10-14
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1. CHAD-SUDAN RELATIONS AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
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---CHAD AND SUDAN EXCHANGED AMBASSADORS DURING THE WEEK. 2008.
CHADIAN AMBASSADOR TO SUDAN, BAHARADINE HAROUN, WENT TO KHARTOUM
ON A LIBYAN FLIGHT AND SUDANESE AMBASSADOR ABDALLAH CHEICKH
RETURNED ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT.
--- "PRESIDENT EL BECHIR SENDS MESSAGE OF PEACE", SAID LE PROGRES OF
NOVEMBER 12, NOTING THAT A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT BECHIR WAS
RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT DEBY EARLY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, SHORTLY
BEFORE THE OPENING IN N'DJAMENA OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF EXPERTS OF
THE CONTACT GROUP IN CHARGE OF THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE DAKAR AGREEMENT.
ABOUT 50 DELEGATES FROM MEMBERCOUNTRIES OF THE CONTACT GROUP ARE
TAKING PART IN THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE CREATION OF
A JOINT PATROL FORCE TO BE DEPLOYED ON THE BORDER BETWEEN CHAD AND
SUDAN.
---- ABOUT 60 LAWYERS FROM 17 AFRICAN COUNTRIES ATTENDED A
CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGH FRANCOPHONE
JURISDICTIONS (ASSOCIATION AFRICAINE DES HAUTES JURISDICTION). THE
CONFERENCE DISCUSSED METHODS AND MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTING LEGAL
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE HIGH LEGAL INSTITUTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE
COUNTRIES.
---- A SCIENTIFIC COLLOQUIUM ENTITTLED "BEING A CHILD IN CHAD"
SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY INSTITUTIONAL ROLES FOR IMPROVING THE LOT OF
CHILDREN NATIONWIDE. ONE PARTICIPANT TOLD THE NEWSPAPER THAT THE
"ZOE ARK INNCIDENT " WAS A GALVINIZING FORCE THAT PUSHED THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.
--- ----------
2. SOCIAL
--------------
---ON THE FRONT PAGE, L'OBSERVATEUR OF NOV. 12, 2008 HIGHLIGHTED
EXPLOITATION OF JOB SEEKERS BY THE CIVIL SERVANTS AT THE MINISTRY OF
EMPLOYMENT. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, ANYBODY WISHING TO BE HIRED
BY THE GOVERNMENT MUST PAY ILLEGAL FEES RANGING FROM 150,000 TO
800,000 CFA ($300-$1,600) BEFORE BEING CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT.
WHILE QUALIFIED GRADUATES ARE SHUNTED ASIDE , UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE,
HAVING NO LEGITIMATE DEGREE, ARE IMMEDIATELY HIRED AFTER PAYING THE
AMOUNT REQUESTED.
----THROUGHOUT THE CITY PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS ARE INCREASING, BUT
THE PRICE OF CHARCOAL, THE UNIQUE SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR COOKING IN
MOST HOUSEHOLDS, HAS TRIPLED. DESPITE EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
CONTROL CHARCOL PRICES, REALITY ON THE GROUND SHOWS THAT SELLERS OF
THE CHARCOAL ARE PROFITING AND SELLING HIGHER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
ESTABLISHED PRICE. CHARCOAL HAS BECOME QUITE DIFFICULT TO FIND.
-----AFTER THREE WEEKS OF STRIKE, THE UNION OF THE CHADIAN STUDENTS
CALLED FOR THE RESUMPTION OF CLASSES. THEY DECIDED UNANIMOUSLY TO
RESUME CLASSES AFTER BEING PAID THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WERE SIX
MONTHS IN ARREARS. HOWEVER, ADMINISTRATORS AND LECTURERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF N'DJAMENA WONDERED IF THE SCHOOL YEAR CAN STILL BE
SAVED OR WHETHER THEY WILL HAVE TO ABANDON IT AND START WITH THE NEW
ONE "2008 - 2009".
-- A NOMAD CARAVAN OF THIRTY TO FIFTY CAMELS WITH TENTS PERCHED ON
TOP TRANSITED NDJAMENA OVER THE PAST WEEKEND. PROBABLY GORAN OR
ARAB. THE SEVERAL HUNDRED TRADITIONAL CHADIANS LIVING LIFE AS THEIR
ANCESTORS HAVE FOR GENERATIONS WERE AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE IN THE
CITY AND VICE VERSA.
--- IN AN ARTICLE ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE REFUGEES AND THE
DISPLACED IN EASTERN CHAD, N'DJAMENA BI-HEBDO DESCRIBED THAT,
DESPITE ALL THE EFFORTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THERE ARE NO
INDICATIONS OF AN END TO INSECURITY. WARLORDS AND OTHER ARMED
BANDITS CONTINUE TO VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN
CHAD AND SUDAN. THE STORY GREW OUT OF A SEMINAR ORGANIZED IN ABECHE
BY THE CHADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEAGUE. REGARDING DEMOCRATIZATION, THE
PRESIDENT OF LTDH, MR. MASSALBAYE TENEBAYE SAID DEMOCRACY IN CHAD IS
"MOVING BACKWARD."
3. ECONOMY
-- PRESIDENT DEBY TURNED OVER THE FIRST SPADEFUL OF DIRT MARKING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A FORTY-MILE PAVED ROAD BETWEEN MASSAGUET AND
NDJAMENA 00000526 002 OF 002
MASSAKORY. PART OF THE TRANS-SAHARAN ROUTE, THE IMPROVED ROAD WILL
IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE LAKE REGION NORTH OF NDJAMENA.
-- THE FAMININE EARLY WARNING REPRESENTATIVE IN CHAD ADVISED THAT
THE CURRENT HARVEST NATIONWIDE WOULD REPREESENT AN INCREASE OF 2.6
PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ALSO A GOOD YEAR. OVERALL FOOD
PRODUCTION IN CHAD HAS RISEN OVER FIFTEEN PERCENT FROM LOWS OF FIVE
YEARS AGO.
NIGRO