DARFUR REBEL DEMARCHE: HARIR AND SHOGAR ON SLM'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000555 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, AF/SPG, D, DRL, INR, INR/GGI, PRM, USAID/OTI; LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL, ADDIS/NAIROBI/KAMPALA FOR REFCOORDS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL KAWC CD SU SUBJECT: DARFUR REBEL DEMARCHE: HARIR AND SHOGAR ON SLM'S REORGANIZATION REF: A. STATE 60774 ¶B. NDJAMENA 543 Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Kathleen FitzGibbon for reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador delivered points in ref A to Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) members Dr. Sharif Harir and Adam Shogar on April 4. Both SLM leaders praised USG efforts on behalf of the three recently passed U.N. Security Council resolutions. They also reaffirmed their commitment to abide by the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement, the Abuja Humanitarian and Security Protocols, and Security Council Resolutions. Harir and Shogar provided an outline of SLM's current leadership problems and plans for a conference inside Darfur for which they requested international assistance. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On April 4, Ambassador Wall and P/E officer met with SLM's chief negotiator Dr. Sharif Harir, and Representative to the Joint Commission Adam Shogar. Harir and Shogar listened intently and took notes while the Ambassador outlined U.S. expectations that the rebel movements abide by the newly-passed U.N. Security Council resolutions and honor commitments previously made. He noted USG concern with past attacks on humanitarian convoys and stated that these incidents must cease. The Embassy provided the movement leaders with copies of the U.N. resolutions. - - - - - - - - - - - - REBEL MOVEMENT RESPONSE - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) In response, Harir said that the Ambassador's message was clear and that he had taken note. He reiterated the SLM's commitment to the agreements it has signed and emphasized that it is the Government of Sudan that fails to respect the accords. Harir said the SLM is investigating alleged violations by its own members. He also thanked the international community for passing three resolutions on Sudan in a short period of time. He noted that the GOS immediately rejected the Security Council resolutions and he suspects that the Sudanese Cabinet will not cooperate. He stated that the GOS's denunciation of the resolutions demonstrates its lack of intention to fulfill any commitments it makes. ¶4. (C) Shogar agreed with the points made by Harir and also thanked the USG for its efforts on behalf of Darfur. He emphasized that the SLM is in the process of reasserting control on the ground and has recently brought its troops under control. As evidence of this, Shogar cited the lack of rebel violations of the ceasefire over the past reporting periods. He added that the SLM will comply with the U.N. resolutions and continue to protect humanitarian groups whose work is to assist the people of Darfur. He thanked U.S. policy-makers and stated that he was impressed with Representative Jackson-Lee's interest in Darfur during her recent visit. Shogar is concerned about the deteriorating security situation's impact on the displaced persons and refugee camps in Sudan and Chad. With the rainy season coming, he is worried that more lives will be lost. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SLM REORGANIZATION EFFORTS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) Shogar also described instability in the SLM's leadership structure. He requested international assistance as quickly as possible for SLM to meet in Darfur and select new leadership and a permanent delegation to represent the movement at peace talks. The Ambassador asked the SLM representatives to describe the outcome of the movement's recent consultations in Chad. Shogar replied that the SLM's key problem is that it is headed by two young "guys" with no experience. He said the movement's chairman, Abdelwahid Nour, and general-secretary, Mini Minawi, are in constant conflict. It is impossible to make decisions and a conference is needed to produce "rational" leadership for the SLM, he maintained. ¶6. (C) Harir described the SLM's rapid expansion from a small core of 42 members to its current size since July 2002 as the movement's actions against government targets succeeded in attracting disaffected Darfurians. During this period, there were no efforts to design an internal decision-making structure. Harir said that the SLM has a chairman, general secretary, and military members but no other bodies setting direction or policy. Better organization is badly needed to strengthen command and control. When there are no military operations, SLM troops are complaining and "doing other things" because no one is articulating the movement's objectives to them. He emphasized that this is the time in which SLM leaders should be able to communicate to its field component the importance of not committing human rights abuses. (Comment: Harir emphasized the importance of honoring the ceasefire with field commanders Juma Haggar and Djidu during their recent visit to N'Djamena. Harir specifically mentioned that there should be no SLM attacks on civilians or convoys. End Comment.) Also, the potential for factionalization within SLM's military component is growing as long as Mini and Abdelwahid are fighting to stay on top. Sharif described them as so busy trying to keep their positions that they have lost focus. ¶7. (C) Harir believes that SLM's reorganization can bring together many of the fighting elements on the ground. Many SLM fighters are fed up with Mini and Abdelwahid, according to Harir, and some are now living in refugee camps with their families. Some move back and forth across the Chad-Sudan border. Harir stated that the National Movement for Reform and Democracy (NMRD) fighters are looking for an alliance with SLM, as are commanders from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) (Ref B). Harir said the JEM is more organized, but its highly centralized structure complicates negotiations because its spokesmen must call Khalil for instructions between sessions. Harir called JEM's leadership a "web-site" and "thuraya" operation. Harir described the agenda of JEM's rank-and-file as more like that of the SLM. He claims that ousted JEM field commander Mohammed Saleh has already won over half of JEM's fighters. Harir believes that Saleh will have no other option than to bring these fighters to the SLM. It is important for these splinter forces to join the SLM to avoid manipulation by Sudanese intelligence, according to Harir. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HELP US SIT TOGETHER UNDER TREES IN DARFUR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (C) Mini and Abdelwahid's unwillingness to build an organizational structure can be overcome with a SLM conference within Darfur, according to Harir. He described a scenario where the military commanders, political and traditional leaders, and Darfurian exiles "sit together under trees" in Darfur to set direction, elect leaders, create committees, and select a permanent negotiating team. The Ambassador asked whether or not a meeting in Rome facilitated by San Egidio or another non-governmental organization could be useful. Harir and Shogar both said that those meetings are only attended by hand-picked people who can get passports. The "sample is well-controlled" and may not be representative, said Harir, and it is more important to have the people of Darfur together in Sudan to organize the movement so there is wider participation. Harir and Shogar also indicated that leaders selected outside Darfur will not be accepted by those inside. ¶9. (C) Harir and Shogar requested assistance to arrange the logistics for an organizational meeting in Darfur. Harir and Shogar are planning to head to Darfur in the coming days to start the preparations for a meeting. Harir is awaiting permission from the Chadian Government to ensure he would be allowed back into Chad. The Ambassador pressed Harir to be specific on the types of assistance that would be needed. Harir said this effort would require basic funding to move key leaders into Darfur, food for the SLM's fighters and the participants in the conference, vehicles and petrol, and means of communications. The international community could also assist in obtaining assurances from Chad and Libya to allow the safe passage of rebel movement members to the talks. The Ambassador asked about the African Union's role. Harir said the AU and other "friends" of the movement would likely be invited. He also said that the involvement of an outside foundation, to ensure a proper accounting of funds, is acceptable. ¶10. (C) Harir observed that the outcome of the meeting would be the creation of an organization with a division of responsibilities, including political and military committees to provide a system of accountability. He cited, as an example of the lack of accountability now existing in the movements, a recent case involving Abdelwahid's refusal to answer his Thuraya when the United Nations and Harir were trying to reach him. It is this type of behavior, Harir maintained, that must end in order to make SLM members accountable. The Ambassador said he was glad Harir and Shogar had not claimed that the Darfur meeting was a precondition for the resumption of the talks in Abuja. Harir agreed that it was not, but that an organized and focused SLM was critical to the success of the negotiations. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WHEREABOUTS OF OTHER MOVEMENT MEMBERS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶11. (C) The Embassy could not deliver the points cited in Ref A to several of the rebel movement members. We will continue to look for opportunities to do so. SLM's Bahar Arabi departed Chad for Maiduguri, Nigeria on April 1. JEM field commander Mohammed Saleh left Chad on or about April 2 for Darfur. He is currently inside Sudan. Talgedin Niam, JEM's representative on the Joint Commission, is based in Chad but is currently outside the country. He is either in Dubai or Asmara. - - - - COMMENT - - - - ¶12. (C) Harir and Shogar clearly understood our message. Harir had previously discussed the issue of ceasefire violations with SLM's top field commanders when they were in N'Djamena. Harir and Shogar's push for a meeting inside Darfur has an element of self-interest. As previously reported, indications are that Harir may be elected into the SLM's hierarchy in a Darfur meeting. Shogar wants more latitude at the Joint Commission, where he is the SLM's representative. All indications in N'Djamena, including from Chadian authorities, is that the meeting could be held in May in Darfur. It is not clear from here whether Mini Minawi or Abdelwahid would attend. ¶13. (C) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize Considered. WALL NNNN