EIGHTH JOINT COMMISSION MEETING: JUMP-STARTING THE

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001378

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF KAWC CD SU
SUBJECT: EIGHTH JOINT COMMISSION MEETING: JUMP-STARTING THE
PROCESS



1. (SBU) Summary. The Joint Commission on the Darfur
Humanitarian Cease-fire met September 8-9, taking advantage
of a visit by the African Union's Special Envoy for Darfur,
Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim. The agenda was devoid of any overtly
controversial issues and focused on a report by the
Cease-fire Commission on violations by all parties, which
appear now to be driven more by personal interests rather
than to be politically-motivated. In response, the
Government and Sudan Liberation Movement blamed each other
for the violations. The SLM was upset over the Chairman's
conclusions, which are non-binding, because they noted GOS
cooperation while condemning the movements. The also
complained that they were not given a copy of the CFC report
and conclusions in advance. These deficiencies can be
rectified when a small secretariat and AU office are
established in N'Djamena. The meeting represented a small
step toward re-establishing an implementation mechanism.
More regular meetings of the Joint Commission plan to be
held, with the next one likely in Abuja. Salim's comments on
the timing of the next round of peace talks in Abuja are
reported by septel. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The eighth session of the Joint Commission on the
Darfur Humanitarian Cease-fire (JC) was held in N'Djamena on
September 8 and 9. The meeting marked the resumption of the
JC, which held its last meeting on February 16. JC Chairman
General Mahamat Ali Abdallah presided, assisted by new
Chadian mediators Baharadine Haroun and Ambassador Mahamat
Habib Doutoum. African Union (AU) representation included
Special Envoy Salim Ahmed Salim, Ambassador Sam Ibok, and
Boubou Niang. The Government of Sudan's (GOS) delegation
consisted of Dr. Al Tidjani Saleh Fadoul, Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs; General Mahamat Ahmat Mustapha al-Dabi,
Minister of State at the Presidency; Ambassador Ousman
Mahamat Ousman, Director of Crisis Management, MFA; General
Esmat Abdelrahman, Popular Armed Forces; Lt.Col. Akram
Mahamat Hissein; and Ambassador Abd Alla Al Sheiks, Sudanese
Ambassador to Chad. The Sudan Liberation Movement's (SLM)
representatives were Abdeljabar Dosa, Ali Ahmed Traiyo,
Abakar Mahamat Aboulbackar, Mohammed Altidjani Attaib, Ousman
Mokhtar Haroun, Oumar Souleyman Dahya, Adman Mohammed, and
Mohammed Harin. The ambassadors and charges of the United
States, France, Germany, the European Union, UNDP, Libya,
Egypt, and Nigeria represented the international community.
The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) did not attend.

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CEASE-FIRE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
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3. (U) AU Cease-fire Commission (CFC) Chairman MG Festus
Okonkwo and Ambassador Hassan Ali, the new deputy CFC
chairman, described the situation in Darfur from February to
September as an "uneasy calm". During the report period, the
CFC investigated 154 violations, of which 39 were committed
by the GOS, 37 by SLM, 5 by JEM, and 73 by Arabs militias.
Okonkwo said that the nature of the violations have changed
from being politically-motivated to driven by individual
interests. He cited numerous instances of sporadic fighting,
burning of villages, looting of livestock and property,
vehicle theft, ambushes of non-governmental personnel,
attacks on AU personnel and GOS administrative convoys, and
kidnapping and other crimes committed against innocent
civilians. He noted that there has been an increase in the
return of internally-displaced persons in areas with an
increased AU presence. One thousand persons have reportedly
returned to Abebe village, south of Nyala.


4. (U) Okonkwo cited lack of command and control within the
rebel movements as an underlying factor for cease-fire
violations. For example, Okonkwo said that SLM continues to
collect illegal taxes and tolls from the local populations,
particularly in Thabit, Labado and Graida. The GOS may be
mobilizing troops nearby and the AU wants the SLM to leave
and allow the AU to occupy the area before a clash happens.
SLM detained an AU military observer team on May 10 at Um
Sauna. SLM ambushes on GOS administrative convoys increased
in May. JEM/SLM confrontations in May and June increased,
leading to numerous casualties and the surrender of JEM


combatants to the AU to avoid capture by SLM. Okonkwo
requested that SLM cease collecting taxes and tolls, stop
attacks on GOS convoys, and pull out of Labado, Graida, and
Isma.


5. (U) GOS and militia violations include an April 7 attack
by 200 jandjaweed on Khor Abeche, which resulted in 4 deaths
and 15 missing, and controversial police activity in the IDP
camps. The government also conducted an aerial raid on a
village. There were numerous instances of jandjaweed and
militia activities. Okonkwo recommended that the GOS provide
72-hour prior notice when it conducts administrative
movements to give the movements enough notice.


6. (U) The report notes the emergence of a new group of 600
men in the villages of Ambarou, Gadi, Sasa, and Tandubaye.
The group is lead by Sugur Kirni and is armed with AK-47s,
landcruisers, and Thurayas. P/E officer asked Okonkwo if the
new group was tied to either Dr. Sharif Harir/Adam Shogar or
Mohammed Saleh. He said that it is not clear who they are.

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RESPONSE OF THE PARTIES
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7. (SBU) Each party's response focused on the violations of
the other without acknowledging responsibility for their own
or outlining steps they will take to curb them. SLM stated
that the report indicates that the GOS is moving around in
rebel areas without enough notice, denied the collection of
illegal taxes, and expressed concern that the CFC lacks
mobility, but is reporting on incidents in allegedly
inaccessible areas. Dosa reiterated Okonkwo's recommendation
that the jandjaweed be disarmed. SLM complained abut a
recent statement made by the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Baba
Gana Kingibe. The GOS complained that rebel movements refuse
to return to their areas and are intent on occupying Labado.
El-Danabi accused the rebel movements of not cooperating with
verification efforts. Tidjani said the GOS is working with
the U.N. on the issue of police presence in the IDP camps.

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CHAIRMAN'S CONCLUSIONS
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8. (U) General Ali concluded by noting that most of the
reported insecurity is because the positions of the parties
are not well-defined. The chairman's conclusions condemned
the crime, looting, kidnapping, confiscation of vehicles, and
attacks on AU personnel and humanitarian convoys by members
of the movements and the armed jandjaweed militias. The JC
called for an immediate end to these attacks, the disarmament
of the jandjaweed militias, and the withdrawal of movement
forces from Labado, Graida, and Isma which will be occupied
by AU forces. The chairman called on the movements to
cooperate fully with the verification commission on positions
and the establishment of a separation plan.


9. (SBU) SLM took issue with the Chairman's conclusions
because in the Arabic version, the GOS is complemented for
its cooperation on verification efforts. The GOS asked that
the English version be amended. SLM complained that they
were being condemned in a public document in which the GOS
was being praised. Ambassador and P/E officer urged them to
speak with General Ali prior to issuing a public statement.


10. (U) For his part, General Ali said that the CFC report
will be made available in advance of the meeting so that the
parties can be better prepared to discuss it. In addition,
other bureaucratic issues surrounding the JC, such as delays
in producing the conclusions, will be resolved with the
establishment of a small secretariat to expedite the
production of the documents.

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STATUS OF AU DEPLOYMENT
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11. (U) According to the account provided by CFC Chairman


MG Okonkwo, the enhancement of the AU presence in Sudan began
on July 1. The plan is to raise the number of military
personnel from 2,341 to 6,171. Currently, there are 5,471 AU
personnel on the ground with 661 military observers and 3,957
protection force members, 37 cease-fire commission members,
and 816 civilian police. Rwandan, Nigerian, and Senegalese
troops have arrived as part of the expanded mission. By the
end of October, the AU deployment is expected to be fully
operational and include: three NigerianQattalions, three
Rwandan battalions, one South African battalion, a South
African Engineer Company and reserve group, a Senegalese
battalion, a Kenyan military police detachment, and a Gambian
company. The lack of Jet A-1 fuel is hampering the AU's
mobility. Currently, El-Geneina and Tine sectors are
inaccessible due to rains. The AU is now providing safe
passage to non-governmental convoys in Darfur.

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COMMENT
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12. (SBU) The re-launching of the JC is a first step in a
longer process of getting the parties to comply with the
agreements that they have already signed. An enhanced AU
mission on the ground will help the security situation, but
the parties need to demonstrate restraint, discipline, and a
stronger commitment to implementation of the cease-fire. The
JC is correcting some of its bureaucratic weaknesses, which
in turn could help instill more confidence in the process.
This was the first JC meeting for the SLM representatives who
attended, and some of their concerns were the result of
inexperience with the body's internal procedures. We are
encouraging them to make the JC an effective venue for
voicing their concerns and demands. JEM's refusal to
participate does not appear to be a problem for the AU at
this point. The next meeting will likely be held at the
upcoming peace talks, which gives JEM no excuse for
non-participation.

13, (U) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize Considered.
WALL


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