Major alert as rebels make push for capital

CHAD DIARY: The Irish unit was called into action as rebels threatened a camp

CHAD DIARY:The Irish unit was called into action as rebels threatened a camp. Capt Cahill arrives home to Ireland today, writes CAPT JAMES CAHILL.

THE SUN was almost blinding as, cautiously, we rolled through the IDP camp (Internally Displaced Persons), 35km south of Camp Ciara, where a large number of rebel vehicles were seen driving into less than 24 hours earlier. We took the lead, shadowed for protection by another CRV (Close Reconnaissance Vehicle), working forward of the main body in order to ensure the area was safe. If anything did happen we’d be able to extract quickly without putting the whole convoy waiting a few miles behind us in danger. Weapons were at the ready, body armour strapped on as we had no idea what sort of reception awaited us.

Three days earlier our area had an incursion by a rebel force of approximately 5,000, crossing in different locations from Sudan. Although they had originally not ventured too far in, these Chadian rebels were making a definite push towards the capital.

As soon as we received this information, our tempo went through the roof. Troops from APC company were placed “on the ground” in the local town of Goz Beida, ready to extract humanitarian workers and defend compounds. When a request came for NGOs to be extracted from Koukou-Angaranna as they feared for their safety, we were sent.

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As we made our way through the IDP camp there didn’t appear to be the immediate threat we anticipated but the general mood was very tense and uneasy. Once on the square in Koukou, the adjacent village, we radioed back to company HQ to let them know the area was clear for them to move forward. A local security man confirmed that approximately 600 rebel vehicles did in fact drive through the town, and looking around the villagers were notably spooked.

We knew we had to work quickly as the two-hour window for the op was closing rapidly after which our patrol would run the risk of being mistaken by the Chadian air force as a rebel column and possibly targeted.

Although an all-out battle had not yet taken place between the rebel factions and the ANT (Armée National du Tchad), it was believed the government was allowing these rebel forces to travel far into their baron country and away from the heavily populated areas.

The rebels on the other hand had known the strongholds or concentrations of the ANT land forces and so bypassed all major routes travelling along a southern axis to stretch as much as possible the government forces based some 200km north. We were under no illusion something was going to go down, it was just a matter of days if not hours and where, and the danger we faced was getting caught in the crossfire while protecting NGOs and the civilian population.

Comdt Frank Colclough briefed the nearly 70 humanitarian staff on the situation and the plan to get them out to Camp Ciara. Moving out we ensured maximum security for those we were protecting by placing armoured vehicles at the front and rear of the convoy.

Progress was slow since the dirt tracks had started deteriorating rapidly with the beginning of the rainy season. Two hours after leaving the NGO compound we were back in the safety of the camp. No shots fired, no casualties; the operation a success.

Over the following days our company relieved APC company protecting and securing Goz Beida, who, at this stage were beginning to feel the effects of being exposed to the constant and unforgiving sun.

As predicted the conflict situation did reach a flash point in Am Dam, an area three to four hours drive away resulting in many casualties on both sides. The danger we all now faced was the threat of these rebels fleeing in disarray and pillaging the town on the way back. So we remained in position and on continuing alert. A few days later the immediate threat had subsided and everything went back to normal.

Normal for Chad, anyway.