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).

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ROTATION OF RWANDAN TROOPS EFFECTS AMIS COVERAGE OF GRAIDA
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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