DARFUR PEACE TALKS: NEXT STEPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000856

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: NEXT STEPS

REF: ABUJA 798


1. (SBU) Summary: On April 19, African Union Chief
Negotiator Sam Ibok discussed potential next steps for
putting forward the entire peace deal with USDEL. During the
same meeting, AU Special Representative Baba Gana Kingibe
said that there will be a transition from AMIS to a re-hatted
force in Darfur and that he is prepared to travel with UN
Special Representative for Sudan Jan Pronk on a
pre-assessment mission. Meanwhile, the Movements continue
consultations with Vice President Ali Osman Taha and Sudan
Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) members, with somewhat
mixed results. Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) leader Minni
Minnawi outlined his talks with Vice President Taha for the
international partners. Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)
members met Taha for the first time on April 18 with AU
mediators present. End Summary.

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AU MEDIATION
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2. (SBU) USDEL met with AU Chief Negotiator Sam Ibok and
Special Representative Baba Gana Kingibe on April 19. Ibok
wanted to know the status of the cease-fire discussion and
final security arrangements document. Khartoum CDA Hume said
that the main sticking points on the cease-fire remain
policing, responsibility for border control, and the
disarmament of the janjaweed. (retel) The discussions are
at a point where the final security arrangements document
needs to be given to the parties. USDEL security expert and
lawyer finalized the security arrangements document, set to
be given to the parties on April 20. Ibok agreed with USDEL
that the parties are ready for the entire package and that
the AU wanted to put it forward by week's end (April 21). He
asked for advice on how to proceed. CDA Hume said that the
final security arrangements paper needs to go to the parties
on April 20. All of the issues would then have been tabled.
Then, the entire package, including power, wealth, and
security, could be briefed to the parties, followed by the
document within 24 hours.


3. (SBU) Kingibe clarified the AU's position on the AMIS-UN
transition. Kingibe said that the AU will move forward on
the basis of the GOS's statement that it would consider an
AMIS-UN transition if there was a peace deal. Given the
momentum of the peace talks, it is prudent for the AU and UN
to work together on an assessment. Kingibe is preparing to
travel with Pronk to Darfur to begin an assessment on the
transition needs. Kingibe said that the GOS will have to
accept the probability that there will be a UN force
structure that includes the south, Darfur, and possibly, the
East in the future. They may be a UN Force Commander with a
deputy for each region. For Darfur, Kingibe said that the
deputy would be an African and the character of the force
will remain African.

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TAHA CONSULTATIONS
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4. (SBU) The hefty GOS delegation, led by VP Taha and
recently augmented by Security Chief Salah Gosh, continues
active round robin meetings with the movements. The results
are mixed. SLM leader Minni Minnawi's early meeting some ten
days ago seemed to provide the reassurance that Khartoum was
prepared to make a deal. Much of that earlier optimism
dissipated during the subsequent five sessions. Minni claims
Taha offered concessions early and has later reneged. Taha's
people say that Minni, when alone, appeared more flexible
than when accompanied by some of his senior lieutenants.


5. (SBU) During a meeting with the international partners
on April 19, Minni expressed concern that the GOS would
identify the major points of contention but not negotiate
seriously on them. Minni said that the GOS may hope that as
the April 30 deadline approached, some framework document
would be proposed with the details of decisions to be left to
be worked out during the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue. This has
been a long-standing fear of the Movements and a "solution"
they will continue to reject. There is no indication that
the AU intends to pursue such a course.


6. (SBU) One of the major sticking points continues to be
the integration of the rebels into the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Both sides have accepted the principle of integration but
the GOS insists that it must be done on an individual basis
determined by SAF needs and rebel combatants' proficiency.

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The Movements acknowledge that eventually their soldiers will
become part of the SADF as individuals but insist that during
the transition period unit integrity should be maintained.
The Movements are especially sensitive to the fact that the
GOS has already integrated a number of janjaweed into the
ranks without the rigorous vetting that they seem to want to
impose on the movements. Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement
(SPLM) members of the GNU delegation, particularly Malik
Agar, understand the Movements' position and told us they
would attempt to help craft a GOS position, and persuade
Taha, Salah Gosh, and Magzoub Al-Kalifa, that unit
integration during the transition, lots of training to
improve competencies, and then integration into the national
forces could be an acceptable compromise.


7. (SBU) Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) members met
with Taha on April 18. The meeting was facilitated by the AU
mediators, who also attended the meeting. Ibok said the four
hour meeting was difficult with JEM restating its positions
on power, wealth, and security issues. JEM members, however,
told USDEL that they would be willing to continue to meet
with Taha. JEM's spokesman, Ahmed Hussein, said that it is
important for the Movements to be seen as cooperating with
Taha to strengthen his hand against Magzoub. Nonetheless,
JEM continues to put out negative press statements about the
peace process. The SLM factions, well-aware of JEM's
game-playing, say they are considering ways lessen JEM's
shenigans.

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COMMENT
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8. (SBU) The African Union now appears onboard to deliver
the entire peace package to the parties within 24 hours, as
promised.
CAMPBELL