DARFUR PEACE TALKS: INCREASING THE MOMENTUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000650

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/SPG, D, INR, DRL, PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SU NI
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACE TALKS: INCREASING THE MOMENTUM

REF: ABUJA 640

Classified By: USDEL Member Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: The following is an update on USDEL's
engagement with the African Union mediation and the parties.
End Summary.

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SUDANESE DELEGATION MEETS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
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2. (C) On March 22, Magzoub Al-Kalifa outlined the
Government of Sudan's views on the enhanced cease-fire
document and the outstanding issues on the power and
wealth-sharing commissions. Magzoub said that the GOS
position at the talks had evolved over time and that the GOS
remains "open" to initiatives that do not impinge on three
principles: respect for democracy, respect for the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the maintenance of a
North-South balance. He expressed his disappointment that
there was no response from the "other side" to GOS
initiatives. Magzoub urged more activism by the
international partners in the process. On the enhanced
cease-fire document, Magzoub raised several issues, but
stressed the importance the GOS placed on seeing the overall
security arrangements package before it could determine
appropriate measures for the cease-fire. In his opinion,
almost 75 percent of the provisions needed on security might
be contained in the enhanced cease-fire document, but this
remains uncertain unless the final security arrangements
document is put on the table. He also noted that some of the
movements' concerns would be allayed if they understood that
at the end of the negotiating process, they will become part
of the Government of National Unity. Magzoub also noted that
on border security, the GOS is bound by an agreement it
signed in Tripoli with Chad on joint-border patrols,
rendering the movements' idea that they themselves with
provide border security in their areas unworkable. General
Ismat Abderahmane and three other GOS generals indicated some
signs of flexibility in the GOS position on security issues
in a dinner with USDEL on March 21. Ismat indicated that the
GOS will consider the integration of some movement forces
into the military, perhaps as many as 1,000 to 2,000. He
also discussed the practicalities of the site identification
exercise and demonstrated a good understanding of the fears
behind the movements' concerns on the issue.


3. (C) Three of the four outstanding issues on
wealth-sharing have been resolved, leaving only the issue of
compensation for war-affected persons open, according to
Finance Minister Lual Deng. The AU mediation and GOS used
several experts to help the movements better understand the
issues related to revenue allocation and refugee returns,
including the director of Sudan's Federal Fiscal Management
and Allocation Commission and a protection officer from
UNHCR's Khartoum office. The GOS and AU mediation invited
three of the rebel movement delegates on the wealth-sharing
commission to attend the Paris meetings last week. During
that visit, the movements gained a better understanding of
how a Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) is put together from the
donor perspective. As a result, the only outstanding issue
remains compensation. On this issue, the GOS is offering to
contribute to and ask for donor contributions for the Darfur
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Fund which will provide
community compensation in the form of schools, wells, health
and education services, and other forms of infrastructure in
Darfur. The movements are asking that each of the 600,000
war-affected families receive 1000 USD in addition to the
UNHCR standard return package. UNHCR explained to the
movements the modalities of "return packages" for refugees
and internally-displaced persons, which has helped the
movements' understand better the process of voluntary returns.


4. (C) In response to the GOS presentation, Khartoum CDA
Hume emphasized the need to get the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement done over the next month. In order to accomplish
this, he noted that the GOS had again presented its "red
lines" and asked what its "blue lines" were. He pressed the
GOS to outline what it could accept on power and
wealth-sharing and security arrangements as a way to move the
process forward to conclusion more quickly. He told the GOS
delegation that its "initiatives" have been so small that the
other parties, and the international partners, cannot see
them to react and that the GOS needed to do more to get a
response that the international community could back. CDA
Hume also reminded the GOS that the United Nations can help
the GOS on Darfur and that it should consider the UN an ally,

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not an enemy in the peace process. Hume stressed the
availability of the USDEL to discuss various options and
opportunities at any time and at any level.

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WORKING KEY CEASE-FIRE ISSUES WITH MOVEMENTS
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5. (C) The USDEL is also working daily with SLM faction
leader Minni Minawi and AU mediation team member Alex de Waal
on the mapping of movement positions and crafting language
for the bridging provisions of the cease-fire agreement on
the status of forces. Minni has cooperated and understands
the importance of the identification of the movements'
positions for the cease-fire and the overall security
arrangements agreement. Minni also understands that by going
ahead with this exercise, the Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) will left behind if it continues to oppose revealing
the size and location of its forces (or lack thereof).
Meanwhile, USDEL is helping to facilitate the reconciliation
between Abdelwahid and his dissident members to ensure that
are onboard together with the cease-fire and the final
security arrangements agreements.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SALIM
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6. (C) USDEL also met with AU Special Envoy Salim Salim on
March 22 and gave him an update on where the process is and
gave recommendations on moving it forward. These included:
pushing ahead to get final agreement on the wealth-sharing
protocol and getting the Final Security Arrangements and
power-sharing on the table. With compensation as the only
outstanding issue, the partners and mediation could work with
the rebels to get them to drop their demand for individual
compensation, thus finalizing the wealth-sharing deal. This
could give an immediate boost on the other issues and a sense
that the process is nearing conclusion. At the same time,
USDEL emphasized that it is clear that the parties must have
the texts for security arrangements and power-sharing on the
table as soon as possible. Salim said that the security
arrangements and power-sharing texts would be ready within a
couple of days. CDA Hume indicated that the U.S. is firmly
behind him but that we could engage the GOS and movements
with more effect if we knew, in advance, what we are pushing
forward. Salim promised to give the USDEL the documents in
confidence 24 hours in advance of all others. Salim
responded that pushing the wealth-sharing issue to closure is
a good idea without asking for immediate action. Finally,
USDEL promised continued efforts to push forward on security
and all other issues.
CAMPBELL