DARFUR PEACE TALKS: OBASANJO MEETS DARFUR PARTIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000676

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SU NI
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACE TALKS: OBASANJO MEETS DARFUR PARTIES

REF: ABUJA 650


1. (SBU) Summary: Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
stressed the importance of getting a peace deal soon to
parties to the Darfur conflict on March 25. Obasanjo also
asked the African Union mediation for a clear schedule for
the negotiations and expressed his desire to weigh in on the
peace process in other capitals. Obasanjo's efforts, as do
ours, require the AU to put the entire peace package on the
table this week in order not to lose the momentum and the
high level interest now being shown in finalizing a deal.
The AU is promising to deliver the paper, however, we remain
concerned that the mediation lacks the capacity to do so.
End Summary.

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OBASANJO MEETS GOVERNMENT AND MOVEMENT DELEGATIONS
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2. (SBU) On March 25, President Olusegun Obasanjo met with
the Government of Sudan delegation and then the three rebel
movements. According to African Union (AU) Mediation team
members, Obasanjo wanted to hear their current positions
directly from them before he traveled abroad. He also wants
to be prepared to weigh in with Khartoum and Tripoli to move
the process forward. Obasanjo stressed the importance of
getting an agreement as quickly as possible in both meetings.
Sudanese Delegation head Magzoub al-Kalifa reportedly
disparaged the AU Mediation's efforts and complained that the
process was too slow. Magzoub told USDEL on March 26 that
Obasanjo asked the AU for its immediate plans and a clear
schedule for the discussions in coming weeks. AU Chief
Mediator Sam Ibok said that within one week the complete
security arrangements language would be ready and that power
and wealth sharing package would be on the table at the end
of this week.


3. (SBU) Sudan Liberation Movement faction leaders Minni
Minawi and Abdelwahid Nur and Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) spokesman Ahmed Tugod Lissan met together with
Obasanjo. They relayed similar accounts. They complained
that the AU's outline of the key issues for Obasanjo was
unfavorable to the movements' demands. They then tried to
make their case on powersharing issues, such as region and
vice-presidency, but describe Obasanjo's reaction as
non-commital. Nonetheless, all three movement camps told us
that they view Obasanjo's engagement, particularly with
Khartoum and Tripoli, as essential to the process.

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MAPPING EXERCISE CONTINUES
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4. (SBU) Throughout the weekend, SLM faction leader Minni
Minawi and the Government of Sudan's military officers worked
with the AU and USDEL on the mapping of their forces. USDEL
and AU mediation team member Alex de Waal are providing
expertise, but the AMIS mapping experts will not arrive until
the end of the week. Nonetheless, the process continues with
a high level of focus from both SLM and the GOS. The
Sudanese military officers tell us that they are pleased that
after two years, the most important element of a workable
cease-fire is underway. In preparation for his turn at the
map, SLM faction leader Abdelwahid Nur is obtaining GPS
coordinates for his forces. On March 25, Justice and
Equality Movement (JEM) members told us that they will also
participate in the mapping exercise. In conjunction with the
mapping exercise, USDEL also worked with de Waal on language
for overall agreement, the key issues of which will be
reported in SEPTEL.

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GOS ENGAGEMENT
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5. (SBU) USDEL meetings with the GOS on March 25 and 26
indicate a greater willingness to engage, but have yet to
yield any major movement on key issues. The GOS continues to
wait for the entire document to be put on the table. Magzoub
has reiterated the GOS position and outlined the importance
of maintaining a north-south balance and a National Congress
Party majority when working on formulas for Darfurian
representation at all levels of government. USDEL also met
with a small GOS working group appointed by Magzoub, headed
by Finance Minister Lual Deng and includes GOS members of all
three commissions. The group is supposed to help the GOS
team work through tough issues. While this could be a
positive development, we cannot judge its relevance or

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potential until there is a draft paper on the table to
discuss.

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) We keep hearing that the paper will be on the
table this week. Salim reportedly arrives back today. The
AU mediation will be meeting on March 28 to discuss the
"package". We are pushing for the paper earlier rather than
later in the week. Without it, the AU is in danger of losing
the building momentum, interest from the parties, and from
key outside players such as Obasanjo.
CAMPBELL