SUDAN/DARFUR: AU COMMISSION DEMARCHED ON GRAIDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001194 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016 TAGS: PREL SU KPKO MOPS AU SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: AU COMMISSION DEMARCHED ON GRAIDA REF: A. STATE 66151 ¶B. KHARTOUM 1011 ¶C. ADDIS 1186 Classified By: JANET WILGUS, CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I. REASON: 1.4 (D). ¶1. (SBU) Deputy pol/econ counselor delivered ref A points on USG concerns about further violence in south Darfur to Ambassador Ki Doulaye Corentin, Head of the African Union Commission's Darfur Integrated Task Force (AU/DITF),on April ¶28. Ki Doulaye pledged to share the information with AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ambassador Said Djinnit. ¶2. (C) Ki Doulaye said the African Union had long tried to avoid this confrontation between the SLA and the Sudanese Government, which was "a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement" on behalf of both the Government and rebels. Because of heavy fighting in the area, the Joint Commission in Abuja had earlier called for belligerents to withdraw from Graida, Labado, and Sheria, he said. SLA factions, following their split, had returned and occupied Graida as "a stronghold." The AU had been involved in "negotations for months" for the SLA to withdraw from Graida, as the Sudanese Government had accused AMIS of failing to meet its commitments. The Sudanese Government had pledged to take action, Ki Doulaye said, following the SLA's refusal to withdraw and the SLA's claim that it had popular support in the area. ¶3. (C) Ki Doulaye said the AU was disturbed by reports of civilians at risk, as they meant the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) was not fulfilling its mandate. He said AMIS would "take all necessary steps" to protect civilians and IDPs, and to engage all parties to "restore neutrality" to Graida. Ki Doulaye noted that the issue had been raised with the AMIS Deputy Force Commander, who would do his best to protect civilians, and that the AU had dispatched DITF Military Component LTC Mbaye and another military officer April 28 to discuss it further with the AMIS Deputy Force Commander in El Fasher (as the AMIS Force Commander remains in Abuja attending political talks). -------------- -------------- ROTATION OF RWANDAN TROOPS EFFECTS AMIS COVERAGE OF GRAIDA -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Ki Doulaye noted that Graida was located in the sector for which the Rwandan contingent was responsible; Rwandan troops were currently pre-occupied with their troop rotation, with 200 troops awaiting transit at El Fasher, rather than in the field. While Rwandan troops "usually interpreted the AMIS mandate strongly," the ongoing troop rotation "explains our weakness on the ground," Ki Doulaye said. (NOTE: According to AU/DITF, the rotation of the Rwandan contingent began April 27 and is not expected to be completed until next week. END NOTE.) Ki Doulaye explained that with approximately 150 troops typically manning a team site, having 200 troops waiting at El Fasher thus significantly reduced AMIS's presence in the field. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: AU/DITF's analysis highlights the significant operational impact that delays in strategic lift can have on AMIS's ability to protect civilians in Darfur. END COMMENT. WILGUS