DARFUR POLITICAL TALKS: AU PSC DEMANDS SLM/A FOCUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003941

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E.
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU XA AF UNION
SUBJECT: DARFUR POLITICAL TALKS: AU PSC DEMANDS SLM/A FOCUS



1. (SBU) Summary: According to African Union (AU) mediator
for the Darfur Political Talks Amb. Sam Ibok, the Seventh
Round of talks will resume in Abuja on November 28. On
November 22, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) urged
all parties to ensure that the Seventh Round is the "decisive
round" with a comprehensive peace agreement consistent with
the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January

2005. The PSC "strongly" demanded that SLM/A leaders put
aside their differences to focus on negotiations to end the
conflict. The PSC also decided to work with the UNSC to
consider appropriate measures, including sanctions, against
any party that undermines the peace process. The AU appears
to be redoubling efforts on Abuja in order to create more
favorable conditions for a mid-January PSC decision on the
future of AMIS, including arrangements for a transition to a
UN mission. (Note: The PSC Communique and accompanying
report were forwarded to AF/SPG and Embassy Khartoum. End
note.)

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AU OFFICIALS SEEK ABUJA SAVING GRACE, FEAR SLM/A SPOILER
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2. (SBU) With the transition of AMIS to UNMIS on AU and
partner minds, AU officials express dismay that the October
SLM/A "elections" have deepened divisions within the
movement, making a political settlement, and impression of AU
success, all the more difficult. Peace and Security
Commissioner Amb. Said Djinnit indicates that the AU is
putting even more emphasis on achieving a timely political
settlement in Darfur. Amb. Ibok told Addis-based partners
November 16 that the AU team continues to promote an
all-inclusive process as excluding Abulwahid El Nur could
prompt him to "misbehave" in order to secure a seat at the
table. Ibok noted that the AU seeks to ensure that any
agreement reached in Abuja is implementable and said that
details on security arrangements "will make or break" a
settlement. Ibok also stated his personal view that Mini
Minawi may not be ready to negotiate and may still be
pursuing a military solution to Darfur.


3. (SBU) AU Special Representative Baba Gana Kingibe observed
on November 16 that the long-overdue arrival of Canadian APCs
will improve AMIS force posture but that AMIS still lacks the
capability to "take on the parties" if they refuse to
cooperate. Following the October 10 PSC Communique on
Darfur, Kingibe had expressed disappointment that the UNSC
did not issue a presidential statement supporting the AU
Commission's hard-won achievement of a PSC communique
mentioning the possibility of UNSC sanctions on
non-cooperative parties.


4. (SBU) Comment: The AU undoubtedly hopes to point to signs
of progress in Abuja ahead of the "planning mission" to
assess AMIS requirements and its future, which will inform a
mid-January PSC decision on the AMIS mandate. AU Darfur
Integrated Task Force officials indicate that the PSC should
also address the issue of transition from an AU to a UN-led
military mission, but AU leaders remain wary on timing.
Addis-based partners are seeking a meeting with Peace and
Security Commissioner Djinnit the week of November 28 to come
to agreement on planning mission dates, composition and
objectives. End comment.

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PSC COMMUNIQUE
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5. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union
(AU),at its 43rd meeting, held on 22 November 2005, adopted
the following decision on the preparation for the 7th Round
of Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on the conflict in Darfur:

Council,


1. Expresses concern over recent developments on the ground,
particularly violations of the Ceasefire Agreement, under any
pretext whatsoever, and calls upon all the parties to
exercise maximum restraint and to abide by their commitments;


2. Urges all the Parties to return immediately to Abuja for
the 7th Round of the Talks, without any preconditions, and to
ensure that the 7th Round is the decisive one, with a
comprehensive peace Agreement to end the conflict in Darfur,
as was agreed at the end of the 6th Round.


3. Reminds the leaders of the SLM/A of their heavy
responsibility not to prolong the suffering of their people
in Darfur and, in this respect, strongly demands that they
put aside their differences and personal ambitions and focus
on the negotiations to end the conflict;


4. Further demands that, as soon as practicable, the
leadership crisis in the Movement should be addressed
collectively and resolved in a manner that is democratic,
transparent and fair;


5. Requests the Commission to ensure that invitations to the
7th Round of the Talks are extended to the two groups in the
SLM/A, as may be deemed appropriate;


6. Commends all countries and institutions that have taken
initiatives to overcome the divisions within the SLM/A and
requests them to pursue their efforts in close cooperation
and consultation with the AU;


7. Decides, in close cooperation and consultation with the UN
Security Council, to consider future appropriate measures,
including sanctions, to be taken against any party that will
undermine or constitute an obstacle to the peace process in
Darfur, including the Abuja Talks, as well as violations of
the N'djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement and the Abuja
Protocols;


8. Appeals to all international partners to lend their strong
support to the AU position on an all-inclusive peace process
that will address the legitimate grievances of the people of
Darfur and to continue to support the Peace Talks, as well as
the AMIS deployment in Darfur, with financial and material
resources;


9. Encourages the Special Envoy and Chief Mediator and his
Team, the Chadian co-Mediation, the Facilities and Observers,
to spare no efforts to speedily conclude a Comprehensive
Peace Agreement on the conflict in Darfur that is consistent
with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of January 2005,
the Interim Constitution of the Sudan and the Declaration of
Principles (DoP) adopted by the parties in Abuja during the
5th Round of Talks;


10. Decides to remain seized with the developments in the
peace process in Abuja and the efforts to stabilize the
security situation in Darfur.

END TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE.


6. (U) Minimize considered.
HUDDLESTON