Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUJA2068
2004-12-15 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

DARFUR PEACE TALKS: STATUS REPORT

Tags:  PREL PHUM MARR EAID PREF PGOV SU NI DARFUR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002068 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG AND PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR EAID PREF PGOV SU NI DARFUR
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACE TALKS: STATUS REPORT

REF: ABUJA 2060

Classified By: Acting Political Counsellor Russell J. Hanks for reasons
1.5 b AND d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002068

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG AND PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR EAID PREF PGOV SU NI DARFUR
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACE TALKS: STATUS REPORT

REF: ABUJA 2060

Classified By: Acting Political Counsellor Russell J. Hanks for reasons
1.5 b AND d.


1. (C) Summary: Reftel described fragility of African
Union-led peace talks on Darfur due to intense fighting in
Darfur. AU and international observers met with the SLM on
December 14 and with the JEM and GOS on December 15. The CFC
representative to the talks reported that Sudanese Government
troops continue on the offensive despite attempts by the
AUCFC to convince them to withdraw their troops and curb the
GS-supported militia. Special envoy Kingibe and acting chair
Ibok adopted a tough stance, reminding the GOS delegation
that the AU and the international partners would hold the GOS
responsible if the AU was forced to suspend the present round
of talks. A member of the GOS delegation told us that the
government was encouraged and emboldened by its agreement
with the UN and by UN Special Rep Pronk's comments and
believed it could play for time and get away with its
aggression. CFC chairman Okonkwo is due to arrive on
December 16, at which time the Joint Commission will meet.
AU has repeated that, if no progress is made by December 17,
it will consider the present round finished and inform the AU
Peace and Security Council and the UNSC. End summary.

--------------
AU - SLM/A Meeting
--------------


2. (C) During a consultation meeting with the SLM/A, acting
Chair Ibok reminded the members that walking away is not an
option and that they should remain and talk if there is to be
any successful conclusion. He told them that General
Okonkwo would address their concerns about the AU, but that
he expected them to remain committed to the peace process and
to respect the agreements and protocols already signed. SLM
leader Gabar Dosa replied that the SLM was surprised that the
AU and international community had not already suspended the
talks in light of the blatant GOS offensive in Darfur on the

eve of the talks. He asked that the AU consider how it would
implement agreements to ensure that the GOS would respect
those already reached. Dosa said that there must be real
progress by January 31 or it will be back to square one -
i.e. war. Citing examples, Adam Shogar said that the SLM had
signed other agreements, which were immediately violated by
the GOS. He said that the AU and international community
were not doing enough to protect civilians and, eight months
after the N'djamena meeting, were unable to stop the killing
and genocide. The SLM, he emphasized, wants real action on
the ground. and if not, it will defend itself and its people.
Special envoy Kingibe replied that pressure must be put on
the GOS and that the AU would soon have its full force
complement - including police co-located with Sudanese
police. He then read a no-nonsense letter from General
Okonkwo to the Sudanese military commander in South Darfur
concerning the GOS "clear the roads" policy.

--------------
AU-JEM Meeting
--------------


3. (C) AU and International Community met with JEM on
December 15. Ibok informed the JEM that the Joint Commission
would meet on December 16 and that the AU was strengthening
its position with the GOS. He reminded them that the
November JC meeting required that the GOS disarm the
Jinjaweed, that the parties reveal their positions, and that
the GOS end its violations. He said he hoped that the
present round of talks could soon return to the agenda, adopt
a Declaration of Principles, and move to a political and
socio-economic agenda consistent with the Naivasha agreement.
JEM spokesman Turgod Lissan replied that the GOS on-going
offensive has complicated the situation on the ground and
affected chances for peace. He then read a letter from the
Western Region Military Commander in El Fasher outlining
actions to clear the roads in line with the GOS agreement
with the UN. The letter requested the GOS commanders to
notify SLM and JEM to leave areas they occupied after April 8
within 4 hours. He read a list of towns and villages which
covered the entire area of South and North Darfur. The GOS,
said Lissan, knows what it is doing. It is not a question of
violations, but rather a declaration of war. Kingibe said
that the AU and international community are engaging the GOS
and urged the JEM to take a holistic view and let the AU play
its part. Lissan demanded that the GOS immediately withdraw
its forces and stop bombardments - all of which, he said,
could be done in a day.

-------------- --------------
Between the meetings: the AU and Partners
-------------- --------------


4. (C) LTC Eric Tele (Kenya),representing General Okonkwo,
briefed the AU and partners following the JEM meeting. Tele
said that his report from the AU Nyala sector commander
revealed that the GOS was holding still in Ishma, but that
the militia had moved out ahead, burning villages in clear
view of the GOS and some AU observers. He said that the GOS
letter demanding that the SLM and JEM leave the named areas
was provocative, and that he was fully aware that the groups
had occupied some of the towns for a long time. Chadian rep
and Joint Commission Chair General Mohamed Ali said that the
AU and partners should have the courage to say there is
aggression and to apply strong pressure on the GOS. US rep
reminded all that the GOS should be held responsible for any
collapse of the present talks. Kingibe candidly told the
group that the strategy of the GOS in its present offensive
is to test the waters and international reaction and move on
to even more aggressive tactics. He asked the international
representatives to urge their capitals to intervene, allowing
that the SLM and JEM will not enter into discussions until
there are changes of the ground. If there is no progress by
December 16 or 17, he said, it would be best to wrap up the
session and issue a statement.

--------------
AU-GOS Meeting
--------------


5. (C) The AU met with a greatly enlarged GOS delegation -
including MG Izmet as the new JC representative - in hopes of
receiving a clear reply to its request that the GOS withdraw
its forces and end its offensive (reftel). LTC Tele repeated
his situation report. Without mincing words, Ibok told the
GOS that unless the military offensive - whatever its
rationale - is ended, the AU would be unable to continue the
talks. It is, he said, the collective view that the process
is in deep jeopardy of being undermined and broken down due
to the GOS offensive. He asked that the delegation convey
these concerns to the GOS. The AU and its international
partners, he said, needed a clear reply by December 17. GOS
Chief delegate Kalifa replied that he had sent a letter to
the Chair and made his case once again that the parties
should all withdraw to their positions on April 8. Despite
Ibok's attempts to elicit a clear reply, none was
forthcoming. Members of the international community voiced
their support for the AU position.


6. (C) We met privately with one of the GOS delegates the
evening of December 14. The delegate, who is from Darfur and
not always sympathetic to the GOS position, said that the
Government was encouraged by the UN agreement and especially
by remarks by Special Rep Pronk. It was also, he said,
encouraged by comments coming out of the AU summit. The
government was shocked by the strong reaction of the AU and
international community to the latest offensive, he added,
and would try to play a game of semantics and smoke and
mirrors, hoping to wear down the AU and its partners. The
GOS, he said, believes it can wait out the international
community, which will do nothing to endanger the Naivasha
process. He urged us to continue the pressure on the
government and "not to blink." SLM and JEM have told us
they will not return to talks with the GOS until there are
concrete results on the ground in Darfur. Kingibe has
spoken with SLM leader Minawi who said he would reconsider
the SLM position.


7. (U) Minimize considered.
FUREY