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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SUDANESE DELEGATION MEETS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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, ABUJA 00000650 002 OF 002 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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WORKING KEY CEASE-FIRE ISSUES WITH MOVEMENTS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SALIM - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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