Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NDJAMENA1547
2005-10-17 11:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

NINTH JOINT COMMISSION MEETING: WIDESPREAD

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREF KAWC CD SU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

171132Z Oct 05

ACTION AF-00 

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 
 IO-00 NEA-00 OIC-00 OIG-00 P-00 D-00 SA-00 
 PRM-00 DRL-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /000W
 ------------------4E3AE3 182102Z /62 
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2467
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
DARFUR COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USLO TRIPOLI 
USMISSION GENEVA
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001547 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, AF/SPG, D, DRL, H, INR, INR/GGI,
PRM, USAID/OTI AND USAID/W FOR DAFURRMT; LONDON AND PARIS
FOR AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL,
ADDIS/NAIROBI/KAMPALA FOR REFCOORDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF KAWC CD SU
SUBJECT: NINTH JOINT COMMISSION MEETING: WIDESPREAD
DISRESPECT FOR CEASE-FIRE

REF: NDJAMENA 1378

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001547

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, AF/SPG, D, DRL, H, INR, INR/GGI,
PRM, USAID/OTI AND USAID/W FOR DAFURRMT; LONDON AND PARIS
FOR AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL,
ADDIS/NAIROBI/KAMPALA FOR REFCOORDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF KAWC CD SU
SUBJECT: NINTH JOINT COMMISSION MEETING: WIDESPREAD
DISRESPECT FOR CEASE-FIRE

REF: NDJAMENA 1378


1. (SBU) Summary: The Joint Commission (JC) on the Darfur
Humanitarian Cease-fire met October 13-14 in N'Djamena. The
key agenda item, strengthening the cease-fire, was never
completely covered, but participants vowed to rejuvenate the
JC and reaffirmed their commitments to participate regularly.
The Cease-fire Commission (CFC) reported on a serious
deterioration of the security situation, which included
widespread violence and deliberate and deadly attacks on
civilians, humanitarian workers, and African Union personnel.
The AU urged the parties not to concentrate on disputing
responsibility for the violations and asked all parties to
focus on ways to strengthen cease-fire mechanisms on the
ground. Nonetheless, SLM/A denied responsibility for the
attack on AU personnel and said it is issuing its own report.
JEM noted that it had not been cited in any of the
violations. The Government of Sudan (GOS) disavowed control
of the jandjaweed and said it would look into the issue of
releasing the remaining Canadian armored personnel carriers.
All international partners condemned the parties for
deterioration of the situation on the ground and implored the
GOS to release the remaining APCs. The Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM) participated for the first time since January.
The meeting dynamics followed the regular pattern of
condemnation and denial, but the spirit of the debate was a
positive development and all parties committed themselves to
participate seriously. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The ninth session of the Joint Commission on the
Darfur Humanitarian Cease-fire (JC) was held in N'Djamena on
October 13 and 14. The meeting saw the return of the Justice
and Equality Movement (JEM),represented by Ahmed Lissan
Tugod and Talgedin Niam, to N'Djamena. JC Chairman Mahamat
Ali Abdallah Nassour was at times joined by Foreign Minister
Allam-mi Ahmad and was assisted by the Chad mediation team,
Baharadine Haroun and Ambassador Mahamat Habib Doutoum.
Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Boubou Niang represented the

African Union (AU) and the Cease-fire Commission by
Ambassador Hassan Ali Gibril and MG Festus Okonkwo. The
Government of Sudan (GOS) delegation was headed by General
Mahamat Mustapha al-Dabi. Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
(SLM/A) Chairman Abdelwahid Nur, Adam Shogar, and Ali Traiyo
spoke for SLM/A. Ambassadors John Yates and Marc Wall, as
well as P/E Officer, comprised the U.S. delegation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CEASE-FIRE COMMISSION REPORT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


3. (U) AU Cease-fire Commission (CFC) Chairman MG Festus
Okonkwo and Acting Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Hassan
Ali Gibril outlined the escalating number of cease-fire
violations, which included deliberate attacks on and
harassment of civilians, humanitarian workers, and AU
personnel. They also pointed out cases in which the parties
denied the AU access to areas under their control to carry
out investigations. Mass movements by all parties were
reported, including high concentrations of armed Arabs with
thousands of livestock. There are also unusual jandjaweed
concentrations near Kabkabiya. Rumors in the area suggest a
potential attacks on Kabkabiya, Rokiro, Nertiti, and Golo.
Attacks occurred in all sectors and the level of insecurity
is causing the return of internally-displaced persons (IDPs)
to Tawilla and Zam-Zam camps. Four AU personnel, which
included three Nigerian observers and one PA/E contractor,
died as the result of attacks on October 8. 39 AU personnel
were kidnapped on October 9. The CFC also noted that the GOS
continues to submit requests for convoy movements too late
for the AU to ensure notification of the parties. This has
led to numerous attacks. SLM/A remains in Graida and Labado
and have established checkpoints along the Labado-Nyala road
and are collecting illegal taxes from civilians.


4. (U) Both Okonkwo and Gibril cited flagrant disrespect
for the cease-fire as hampering the peace process from moving
forward. Gibril's recommendations included: parties should
cease incursions into AMIS-controlled areas; GOS should
disarm the jandjaweed and other armed militias; SLM/A and JEM

need to give the CFC their locations; the SLM/A high command
must caution its field commanders to stop offensive attacks,
especially those on AMIS patrols; the SLM/A should vacate
Labado and Graida without delay; and the GOS should allow the
immediate deployment of the 105 APCs donated by Canada to the
national contingents in the AMIS II mission. To date, only
35 have been released by the GOS. Okonkwo asked that Chadian
authorities help recover AMIS vehicles, weapons, and
ammunition from Sudanese rebel splinter groups on the border.
The CFC reported vehicles and aircraft painted in AMIS
colors with AU insignia are being used by the parties, making
AU personnel potential targets of attacks.


5. (U) The AU's envoy, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe,
roundly criticized all parties for their disregard for the
cease-fire. He said that the AU Peace and Security Council
would be re-considering the AMIS mandate on or about October
20, prior to its expiration. He expressed his hope that
AMIS's protection mandate would be clarified and
strengthened. He reminded the parties of their obligations
to protect civilians and noted that the JC and AU Peace and
Security Council is referring the cease-fire violations to
the U.N. Security Council. He told the parties that UNSC
1591 and 1593 must be respected and bind all parties.
Kingibe urged the parties to work together to strengthen the
JC and the cease-fire. Kingibe asked SLM/A to inform their
commanders that AMIS has the right to move anywhere it needs
to investigate violations. He told the GOS the APCs were
necessary to increase AMIS's mobility. He requested that the
parties refrain from denying responsibility and casting blame
on others for the violations and instead give positive
suggestions for improving the functioning of the JC and
ensuring respect for the N'Djamena Accord and the Abuja
protocols. Kingibe also raised the issue of making the Abuja
process more inclusive, to ensure that all the parties on the
ground are bound by the agreements. Most importantly,
Kingibe insisted that all parties identify their locations.
He condemned the expansion of the conflict into Chadian
territory. All the international partners, including the
U.S. delegation, joined Kingibe in expressing condolences to
Nigeria for the loss of its personnel and condemning the
parties for the escalating violence.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
RESPONSE OF THE PARTIES
- - - - - - - - - - - -


6. (U) Abdelwahid presented SLM/A's reaction to the CFC
report, which began with regretting the loss of life by AU
forces, and denying that SLM/A commanders were responsible.
SLM/A is preparing its account of the events and will deliver
it to the CFC and JC. Abdelwahid stated that the AU needs a
clear mandate to protect civilians and the AU protection
force needs improved logistics and more personnel. If the AU
cannot provide enough troops to protect civilians, Abdelwahid
said that NATO and UN forces should be deployed to Darfur.
Invited to the table by Abdelwahid, Traiyo claimed that the
GOS is impersonating AU forces by painting its vehicles with
AU insignia. This, according to SLM/A, is causing confusion.
SLM/A later raised the issue of the disarmament plan for the
jandjaweed which was critiqued at the JC in February and
asked where is the new plan. SLM/A asked that the JC have an
opportunity to see it.


7. (U) Ahmed Lissan Tugod reaffirmed JEM's commitment to
the cease-fire agreement and noted that JEM was not cited for
any violations, nor did it participate in the deterioration
of the situation on the ground. Both Tugod and Niam took
every opportunity to thank the GOC for its hospitality. They
urged the AU to open its liaison office, which will house the
JC secretariat, as soon as possible. Niam later told us that
he and Tugod would once again be resident in N'Djamena and
that the GOC has promised a house. However, Niam said the
GOC had not made good on its previous promises of a house and
stipends. Tugod told P/E officer that JEM wants to keep good
relations with Chad and dispel accusations that JEM is
recruiting Chadian mercenaries and military officers.


8. (U) General al-Dabi stated GOS troops acted in
self-defense in Sheiria and the GOS is in full control of its
forces. However, he said the GOS is not responsible for the
activities of "uncontrolled" elements. General al-Dabi
proposed establishing joint patrols to protect IDP areas
drawn from GOS, SLM/A, and JEM forces. The GOS wants the
positions of the parties to be verified and called for SLM/A
to withdraw from Labado, Graida, Marla, and Ishma. He also
criticized SLM/A tax collection activities.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
STATUS OF THE AU DEPLOYMENT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -


9. (U) Okonkwo reported that the enhanced AMIS II mission is
at seventy percent capacity. As of October 10, the
5,581-strong AU mission included 696 military observers;
4,848 protection force members from Nigeria, Rwanda, The
Gambia, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa, and Chad; and 11
cease-fire Commission members and 26 international staff.
Only 35 of the 105 Canadian-donated APCs have been turned
over to the AU.

- - - - - - - -
ON THE MARGINS
- - - - - - - -


10. (SBU) SLM/A Chairman Abdelwahid Nur met with Chadian
President Idriss Deby on October 14. According to
Abdelwahid, he was warmly welcomed by the Chadians. (Note:
SLM/A leaders Abdelwahid, Khamis Abdullah, and Mini Minawi
continually promise to visit but never show up. The Chadian
Government issued an ultimatum in mid-September that Chad
could close its borders to SLM/A. Nonetheless, the Chadians
were surprised to see Abdelwahid. End Note.) Abdelwahid
told P/E officer that his meeting with Deby, the President
supported the idea of an all-inclusive conference (see
septel). Deby also expressed his concerns about Libyan and
Sudanese Government support for Chadian rebels and other
elements along the frontier.

- - - -
COMMENT
- - - -


11. (SBU) Despite the usual exhaustive denials of
responsibility, several attempts were made to provide
positive suggestions for moving forward. The agenda item to
consider the verification commission could have been a
show-stopper, but a compromise resulted in sidestepping the
issue. Nonetheless, all parties and partners seem committed
to regular participation on the JC, and the meeting ended on
a more positive note than others.


12. (U) Tripoli Minimize Considered.
WALL


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