Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUJA938
2006-04-26 11:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN DARFUR: AMIS FORCE
how-toVZCZCXRO5091 OO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHROV DE RUEHUJA #0938 1161114 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261114Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5409 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE 3891
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000938
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/SPG, D, INR, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI PINS PARM SU NI
SUBJECT: PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN DARFUR: AMIS FORCE
COMMANDER'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 64735
Classified By: Khartoum CDA Cameron Hume for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000938
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/SPG, D, INR, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI PINS PARM SU NI
SUBJECT: PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN DARFUR: AMIS FORCE
COMMANDER'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 64735
Classified By: Khartoum CDA Cameron Hume for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On April 25 Khartoum CDA Hume raised with AMIS
commander Major General Ihekire US concerns about increased
fighting and specifically attacks on civilians in Darfur per
reftel. He emphasized that recent fighting had taken place
in close proximity to AMIS installations without any
appropriate AMIS action being taken. Ihekire said he had the
same concerns and shared the text of a press statement he had
planned to make about the situation before being urged by AU
mediator Salim Salim to remain quiet in order not to detract
press attention from the release of the mediations Darfur
Peace Agreement text. In response to Hume's question,
Ihekire said he had postponed his return to El Fasher because
he was convinced that at this stage in the talks he could
accomplish more for peace-keeping by urging the movements to
remain engaged in the negotiations. He was in close touch
with his command and had confidence in his Rwandan deputy.
2. (U) Text follows of Ihekire's planned statement on the
escalation of cease-fire violations: The AMIS Force
Headquarters is seriously concerned about recent escalation
in parties' violations of the 2004 Humanitarian Cease-fire
Agreement. All parties have been violating the cease-fire,
which occur in the forms of inter and intra party clashes as
well as attacks on IDPs and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) and even AMIS personnel and facilities. Some of these
violations had particularly targeted vulnerable communities
in Darfur, where marauding armed groups have operated with
impunity to loot, rape, and burn villages.
3. (U) The month of April 2006 witnessed a number of these
cease-fire violations by the parties. As at the 24 April
2006, the SLA had committed 7 violations, in which the
factional fighting between the Minni and Waheed factions of
the movement featured prominently. On 20 April 2006, SLM
Minni attacked SLM Waheed soldiers at Tina and Tabra in
Sector 1. This led to a fierce battle that displaced many
innocent people in the area. Within the same period, the
GOS-janjaweed attack on SLA positions in Jockhana on 23 April
2006. In that attack, helicopter gunships and an Antonov
Bomber (painted white) supported a mass attack by GOS troops
backed by the janjaweed. The scale of this attack is indeed
a source of serious worry.
4. (U) These recent cease-fire violations have continued to
generate tension in Darfur and have contributed in breeding
mistrust amongst the parties. The continuance of the
violations could also impact negatively on the current peace
talks in Abuja. Force Headquarters therefore implore all
parties to desist from further violations of the cease-fire
and give peace a chance.
End Text.
FUREY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/SPG, D, INR, DRL, PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI PINS PARM SU NI
SUBJECT: PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN DARFUR: AMIS FORCE
COMMANDER'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 64735
Classified By: Khartoum CDA Cameron Hume for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On April 25 Khartoum CDA Hume raised with AMIS
commander Major General Ihekire US concerns about increased
fighting and specifically attacks on civilians in Darfur per
reftel. He emphasized that recent fighting had taken place
in close proximity to AMIS installations without any
appropriate AMIS action being taken. Ihekire said he had the
same concerns and shared the text of a press statement he had
planned to make about the situation before being urged by AU
mediator Salim Salim to remain quiet in order not to detract
press attention from the release of the mediations Darfur
Peace Agreement text. In response to Hume's question,
Ihekire said he had postponed his return to El Fasher because
he was convinced that at this stage in the talks he could
accomplish more for peace-keeping by urging the movements to
remain engaged in the negotiations. He was in close touch
with his command and had confidence in his Rwandan deputy.
2. (U) Text follows of Ihekire's planned statement on the
escalation of cease-fire violations: The AMIS Force
Headquarters is seriously concerned about recent escalation
in parties' violations of the 2004 Humanitarian Cease-fire
Agreement. All parties have been violating the cease-fire,
which occur in the forms of inter and intra party clashes as
well as attacks on IDPs and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) and even AMIS personnel and facilities. Some of these
violations had particularly targeted vulnerable communities
in Darfur, where marauding armed groups have operated with
impunity to loot, rape, and burn villages.
3. (U) The month of April 2006 witnessed a number of these
cease-fire violations by the parties. As at the 24 April
2006, the SLA had committed 7 violations, in which the
factional fighting between the Minni and Waheed factions of
the movement featured prominently. On 20 April 2006, SLM
Minni attacked SLM Waheed soldiers at Tina and Tabra in
Sector 1. This led to a fierce battle that displaced many
innocent people in the area. Within the same period, the
GOS-janjaweed attack on SLA positions in Jockhana on 23 April
2006. In that attack, helicopter gunships and an Antonov
Bomber (painted white) supported a mass attack by GOS troops
backed by the janjaweed. The scale of this attack is indeed
a source of serious worry.
4. (U) These recent cease-fire violations have continued to
generate tension in Darfur and have contributed in breeding
mistrust amongst the parties. The continuance of the
violations could also impact negatively on the current peace
talks in Abuja. Force Headquarters therefore implore all
parties to desist from further violations of the cease-fire
and give peace a chance.
End Text.
FUREY