DARFUR: JEM SEEKS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REFORM,

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001615 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, D:T.SMITH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO MOPS PREL SU AU UN SUBJECT: DARFUR: JEM SEEKS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REFORM, JOIN PEACE PROCESS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Two members of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) told poloff June 12 that their organization sought to join the peace process under the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) but urgently needed funds to hold a general congress in order to elect new leadership. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Chairperson of JEM United Kingdom Ibrahim Abdalla and JEM's United Arab Emirates-based Gulf Representative Yousif Abaker Adam appeared unannounced at post June 12 to present a letter to Charge Huddleston. The two told poloff that the majority of JEM's military chiefs, executive leadership and rank-and-file members were ready to accept the principles of DPA despite opposition from Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed. Abdalla said that the organization could not officially accept the DPA and join the peace process until it had removed Mohamed from power through a general congress. Abdalla would like to hold such a congress in Addis Ababa in three weeks, but needs financial and logistical support for such an event. Abdalla requested that the USG fund a congress, including airfare, lodging and meeting space rental fees for approximately 200 participants. ¶3. (U) On June 8, AU Commission for Peace and Security Ambassador Said Djinnit announced that Ustaz Abdel Raheem Adan Abdel Raheem Abu Risha (General Secretary for JEM, Southern Darfur) signed and submitted to the AU a Declaration of Commitment to the DPA, on behalf of JEM followers. Several representatives of the Abdul Wahid SLM/A faction also signed the Declaration of Commitment to the DPA: chief negotiator Dr. Abdel Rahman Musa Abbaker, chief negotiator for power-sharing Engineer Ibrahim Madibo, and representative of the military commanders Commander Adam Saleh Abbaker. ¶4. (SBU) Begin text: June 9, 2006 Dear Ambassador, With reference to our letters to African Union (AU) dated 20th May 2006 and 8th of June 2006, with regard to Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) wherein we expressed the willingness of the majority of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) military and political leaders to join the peace process based on the DPA. We took the initiative to reform our Movement, as the leadership of Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed forms an obstacle to both the peace process and the movement future; hence the majority of JEM's leaders have taken the decision to organize urgently a general congress to restructure the leadership and to elect a new chairperson who sign the DPA and participate fully in the peace process, reconciliation, rehabilitation and development in Darfur. We urge your great country to continue its effort in supporting the peace process by sponsoring the general congress fully or partially. As this general congress is a necessary condition for the peace process. We would be very grateful if your Excellency could arrange an urgent meeting with us for more details. We are looking forward to hear from your Excellency as soon as possible, accept our sincere thanks and our deepest regards. Yours Truly, Signed Idreas Ibrahim Azrag The Offical Spokesperson and Secretary of Information and Culture Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement End text. HUDDLESTON