May 2010: Linking Chadian CSOs with U.S. Government Officials

Delphine Djiraibe, Coordinator of the « Comité de Suivi de l’Appel a la Paix et a la Reconciliation » (CSAPR) and CFK meet with Cynthia Akuetteh, Department of State. The Director of the Office of Central African Affairs was debriefing on Chad-Sudan relations, security in eastern Chad, progress with the electoral process and oil expenditure.

May 2010: "Non-paper between the Government of Chad and the United Nations Secretariat on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT)"

At CFK's invitation, representatives from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and OCHA briefed NGOs on the results of their discussions with the Government of Chad and the future of MINURCAT.  The Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) discussed its assessment of the situtation in the Central African Republic (CAR)  and options for post-PKO engagement.

Speakers discussed the recommendations made by the UNSG in his report, the impact of the Force’s reduction on humanitarian operations and what MINURCAT’s new civilian mandate may look like. The Security Council will meet on May 12th to review MINURCAT's mandate which expires May 15th, 2010.

March 2010 (WASHINGTON): Chad Working Group roundtable with IO, Thomas E. Brown hosted by the Stimson center

CFK organized a NGO roundtable with Thomas E. Brown, Department of State International Organization Affairs, Peacekeeping, Sanction and Counter-terrorism. Mr. Brown briefed NGOs on the context that led to the deployment of MINURCAT, examined the GOC's concerns about the Peacekeeping Force and the impact the Mission has had on the protection of civilians in eastern Chad. 
  

January 2010 (NEW YORK): CFK hosts His Excellency Ahmad Allam-mi, Chadian Ambassador to the United Nations

H.E Ambassador Allam-mi debriefed NGOs on the reasons for the Government of Chad’s recent request to the United Nations not to renew MINURCAT’s mandate. Ambassador Allam-mi discussed possible exit scenarios, security conditions in Eastern Chad and the normalization of Chad-Sudan relations. NGOs were able to vent concerns.

January 2010 (NEW YORK): CFK organizes a briefing for the Austrian Mission to the UN

PANELISTS 

• Ambassador Georg Lennkh, Special Representative to the European Union Presidency and Austrian Foreign Ministry Ambassador
• Mr. Tadjoudine Ali-Diabacte, Deputy Director, United Nations Department of Political Affairs Electoral Assistance Division

Fraught by chronic instability and plagued by successive elections marred by fraud, Chad's democratic progress has been uneven at best. The August 13th, 2007 Political Agreement between the Government of Chad and the political opposition is widely supported by the international community as the basis for electoral reforms in Chad.

Panelists respectively updated NGOs on their last EU Troika and UN electoral assessment mission in Chad. Discussants debriefed participants on the progress made with electoral reforms, security sector reforms and justice system reforms. The role of Civil Society and the press during elections was also discussed.

January 2010 (N'DJAMENA): GOC Anti-Corruption Campaign

Corruption and nepotism are some of the root causes of instability in Chad, with mismanagement of resources and poor governance. Multiple arrests on corruption charges were made over the last several months by the Ministry in charge of State Control and Moralization. To send a strong signal throughout the country that change is occurring in the political environment in N'Djamena, the Chadian justice system must successfully try these cases.

• December 2009: Letter from the President's Office encouraging the work of the Minister in charge of State Control and Moralization, H.E. Amadaye Al-Hassan - IN FRENCH
• November 2009: "Plan Stratégique de la Lutte contre la Corruption au Tchad" of the Ministry in charge of State Control and Moralization, written by CERDO - IN FRENCH
• February 2000: Anti-corruption Law (Loi N°004/PR/2000), courtesy of the CEFOD - IN FRENCH

CFK RECOMMENDATIONS:

To the Government of Chad:

• Seize the opportunity to replace convicted offenders by competent individuals

To the International Community:

• Monitor cases brought in front of the justice system, particularly high profile corruption cases, and ensure that accused individuals receive a fair trial
• Ensure that judges are allowed to review all files associated with a case and are free from outside pressure
• Ensure that those who are found guilty are punished and complete their sentence 

To NGOs and Chadian Civil Society Organizations (CSO):

• Link the positive steps taken by the regime against corruption with the need to address impunity and lawlessness in eastern Chad where corruption is expressed in its worst form, by a chronic non-respect of the law, impacting security, humanitarian operations and the return of displaced populations

December 2009 (N'DJAMENA): International Advocacy harmonizing with Local Activists

In Chad, CFK met with local Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and church leaders to review the implementation of Chad's electoral reform agreement, in preparation for their meetings with the European Union Troika Mission. CSOs stressed to the delegation the need for greater investment in civic education, stronger justice system reforms and for the E.U. to address security in Eastern Chad. Concerns regarding the general security environment were echoed to the E.U. by the political opposition who decried the inability to campaign in northern zones. Freedom of the Press, continues to be an issue as well. Innocent Ebode, Director of the Newspaper "La Voix" was arrested in December and expelled from the country. After reporting on a corruption case deemed "too sensitive," the Government of Chad (GOC) seized all publications and closed the Newspaper down.

Selective implementation of the August 13th Agreement

Large parts of the agreement are still not implemented, yet donors want legislative elections to be held in June of 2010. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) will begin the electoral census come February 2010. A consensus was achieved between GOC and the political opposition to move forth with a computerized census instead of a bio-metric census, deemed by all to be too time-consuming and costly.

Reform of the army and the demilitarization and depolitization of the territory are key components to free and fair elections in Chad, yet these parts of the agreement have failed to see progress.

Environment in Eastern Chad unsuitable for elections

Parts of eastern Chad are highly volatile and multiple NGOs have reduced operations in light of the increased danger and rampant impunity. Armed assailants have stolen dozens of humanitarian vehicles in 2009, killed a driver and a government official and kidnapped an international aid worker. A UN convoy came under fire this past December and the D.I.S. (Détachement Intégré de Sécurité), mandated to patrol the camps, have themselves been attacked.

November 2009 (WASHINGTON): NGO Roundtable with U.S. Africa Bureau D.A.S.

The Bureau of African Affairs, in collaboration with Caring for Kaela organized a NGO roundtable with Karl Wycoff, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs. Mr. Wycoff debriefed NGOs on the U.S. Government’s activities in Chad. Despite efforts to address the internal dynamics of the Chadian crisis, the U.S. Government's lack of a comprehensive policy continues to be apparent.

CFK stressed the need for the U.S. to invest in the building blocks of democracy given that elections in Chad are not likely to bring about a transition in power. Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration programs are also grossly lacking from the landscape. An emphasis was placed on the GOC’s anti-corruption campaign and the need for the U.S. to monitor how cases are being handled by the justice system.

November 2009 (PARIS): CFK mentioned in French Newspaper "La Lettre du Continent"

Translated by CFK                                                                                           Version française

CHAD

"A well connected American NGO"

• The new compass of Idriss Déby is firmly pointing towards the White House in Washington and no longer towards the Eiffel Tower!

Washington has become a turf all the more important for President Idriss Déby since relations between the regime and Paris are on the cold side. But, in the American capital, attention towards the oil producing ex-French colony is not lacking. Thus, at the end of October, conferences on Chad succeeded themselves. The 28th of October on the subject of refugees in the eastern Chad by Physicians for Human Rights, then on the 30th at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) on the “Internal dynamics of the current Chadian crisis” benefiting from a presentation from Daniela Kroslak, the Africa Deputy Director of ICG (International Crisis Group).

A series of attempts while awaiting a “briefing” from the State Department that the NGO Caring for Kaela is organizing. The latter cancelled her own Chad Working Group scheduled for the 28th due to too many events! A decision all the more charitable given that the NGO, presided by the Belgo-American Nathalie Losson, has in the past excelled in her zeal for activities. The 25th of September, Caring for Kaela handled the confirmations – by invitation only – of President Déby’s Press Conference. And a year ago, a large roundtable was organized in New York on Chad by this same NGO which led to a timely meeting between the Coordinator of the Independent Commission for an Inclusive Dialogue, Dr. Djimé Adoum, and President Idriss Déby. Thank you Caring for Kaela! For Kaela only? 

CHAD: Gasping for Change 

November 2009

By N. Losson

In May 2009, after the defeat of the “Union des Forces de la Resistance” (UFR) by the Chadian National Army (ANT), the political climate and power balance changed drastically in favor of N’Djamena. Despite this military defeat, it appeared that the armed opposition had nonetheless achieved a political victory. The international community, previously unwavering in their refusal to negotiate with Chadian Armed Opposition Groups (CAOG), initiated exploratory missions to identify the political platform of the rebels... Read more 

August 2009 (N'DJAMENA): August 13th Anniversary Roundtable

At a roundtable sponsored by Caring for Kaela and organized by the CEFOD, a research center in N’Djamena, Ambassador Gilles Desesquelles (below), European Commission Head of Delegation, reaffirmed his commitment to seeing Civil Society Organizations (CSO) play their role in the implementation of the August 13th electoral reform agreement.

A comprehensive civic education program has in past election cycles been the missing piece on Chad’s road towards democracy. The government, also present during the meeting, encouraged CSOs to begin educating voters about their rights and responsibilities. More resistance was seen on the side of the political opposition.

It now remains to be seen if the line item allocated to civic education in the European Union’s electoral reform budget will demonstrate its commitment to seeing the silent majority educated about their rights.

CHAD: The U.S. can Set the Tone

July 2009

By N. Losson

Peace-building in fragile states is a challenge recognized universally as amongst the most complex the international community and this administration will have to face. Chad, for example, ranks at the bottom of corruption indices and most development indicators. The U.S. Department of State 2008 Human Rights Report on Chad documents grievous human rights violations by the GOC and the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report lists Chad as a Tier 3 country... Read more

June 2009 (WASHINGTON): Meeting with Amb. Brylle 

CFK organizes a meeting with Ambassador Torben Brylle, European Union Special Representative for Sudan and former Special Representative for EUFOR CAR/Chad. In town for the CPA Consultations, CFK invited Refugees International and Human Rights Watch to join the meeting. Amb. Brylle discussed the successes of EUFOR’s deployment but the limitations of using returns as a benchmark. Amb. Brylle continues to see the Dakar agreement contact group as a possible vehicle for restoring Chad-Sudan relations and sees Libya as leading that process.

May 2009 (NEW YORK): Roundtable with SRSG Victor Angelo 

CFK organizes a meeting for Mr. Angelo to debrief New York NGOs regarding MINURCAT’s response to the May rebel attacks.

April 2009 (WASHINGTON): Carson asked Chad questions during Senate nomination sub-committee Hearing

During his Senate nomination sub-committee Hearing, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs-designate receives 2 questions on Chad submitted by Senator Feingold.

1. Ambassador Carson is asked about the need to develop a “long-term and coherent policy towards Chad that addresses the internal causes of the conflict.” Ambassador Carson recognized the impact of Chad's instability on the region and expressed the need for a Chad strategy that supports good govenance, respect for human rights and democracy.
2. The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs-designate is also asked about setting an independent policy agenda in “francophone countries such as Chad…” While reaffirming the U.S.’ need to work collaboratively with partners, particularly France, Mr. Carson assured the committee that in cases interests diverge the U.S. will seek to engage “directly and independently with African member states and regional organizations in pursuit of US objectives.”

Ambassador Carson was also asked about military assistance to countries engaged in political repression and gross violations of human rights, where he responded that the Africa Bureau will be held to the “highest standard.” In reference to strengthening U.S. diplomatic capacity, something the U.S. Embassy in Chad is in dire need of, Ambassador Carson said that he understood this to be a priority and would “conduct a full assessment” of our current diplomatic capacity before singling out certain countries for priority attention.
 

January 2009: Meeting with Obama’s Transition Team

CFK invites NGOs to debrief Obama's Transition Team on the need for a comprehensive Chad policy. 

AGENDA

• MINURCAT
• Human rights violations in Chad and Chad’s role in Darfur
• U.S. Military Assistance to Chad
• Extractive Industries in Chad and the World Bank
• Governance: the root causes of the internal Chadian conflict and the response of the international community
   

The meeting closed with a discussion around congressional support for our recommendations.