TRIBAL/OPPOSITIONAL DIMENSIONS OF EAST SUDAN:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ER SU
SUBJECT: TRIBAL/OPPOSITIONAL DIMENSIONS OF EAST SUDAN:
VISIT TO KASSALA

REF: KHARTOUM 1018

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Eric Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C) Summary: From April 11-13, Poloff and AF/SPG DeskOff
met with government officials, opposition parties, tribal
leaders, NGOs, and UNMIS in Kassala to discuss the political
and humanitarian situation in Eastern Sudan. This is the
second of two cables (see reftel) to discuss the political
and tribal/oppositional dimensions in Eastern Sudan. There
is a lack of communication between opposition leaders inside
Sudan and those based in Asmara, and a testy union between
the Rashaida Free Lions and the Beja Congress. Tribal
leaders predicted that once the SPLA withdrew from Hamesh
Koreib, the Beja Congress and Sheik Suleiman's People's
Defense Forces (PDF) would clash over the area. The
opposition leaders highlighted an increase in the detainment
of their leaders in the past month and a growing conflict
between the Rashaida and Beja tribes over land. In the
Rashaida Free Lions peace accord with the Sudanese government
in December 2005, the government reportedly gave the Rashaida
land in Eastern Sudan. End Summary.

Governor's Advisor: Eastern Front Union Testy
--------------


2. (C) Ahmed Tirik, advisor to the Governor of Kassala State,
described the Eastern Front alliance as "testy", because the
only issue the two parties had in common was their joint
opposition to the Sudanese government. Furthermore, he said
that there are problems between the Beja and Rashaida tribes
because the Rashaida are demanding ownership of Beja lands,
and a nasir (a title granted to a traditional leader whose
tribe owns land). Tirik elaborated, saying that most of the
major indigenous tribes of the East own their land; however,
the Rashaida are considered foreigners because of their
historical ties to Kuwait. According to the Beja, the
Rashaida are therefore not entitled to own land.


3. (C) Tirik predicted that the Beja Congress and Sheik
Suleiman,s militia (PDF) would resort to an armed struggle
after the SPLA withdrew from Hamesh Koreib. He confirmed
that the government was providing arms to the militias in the
East, and referred to them as "testy." He added that,
although he is a National Congress Party (NCP) member, he
describes himself as a "floater", because the only way to
secure services for the Beja people is to join the
government.

Free Lions: Increased Confusion, Frustration, and Tension
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Secretary General of the Free Lions within Sudan, Ali
Abdel Hameed Ahmed, an economics graduate from Kassala
University in 2005, outlined that the Eastern Front needed a
program for the East, institutional capabilities inside
Sudan, and increased coordination between its leaders. He
said there is a growing disconnect within the Eastern Front,
between the internal and external leaders, and between the
military and political wings. Ahmed said that the Eastern
Front has expanded to include the Maneseer Opposition, a
Northern opposition group opposed to the construction of the
Merowe dam. In an effort to broaden its support base, the
Eastern Front outside Sudan has recruited the Shokriya ethnic
group; however, there was no coordination with the Shokriya
inside Sudan.


5. (C) Ahmed said that the Rashaida Free Lions within Sudan
were not consulted nor have they seen the dividends of the
December 2005 agreement between Rashaida Free Lions President
Mabrook Salim and the Sudanese government. (Note:
Reportedly, the Rashaida were granted land through the deal;
however, the Rashaida tribe and the Free Lions appear unaware
of this aspect of the deal, demonstrating the disconnect
between the external and internal Free Lions. End note.) In
his opinion, neither Libyan President Qaddafi nor the
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is committed to solving
the Eastern problem. Ahmed reported that tensions in Kassala
have increased over the last two months due to the increase
in military intelligence and rising anger by youths due to
their constant harassment.

Beja Congress in Kassala; Constant Detainment
-------------- -


6. (C) Poloff scheduled a meeting with the Kassala-based Beja
Congress leader, Muhammed Jaffer; however, after speaking
with Embassy personnel, he was detained by security. He and
his fellow four Beja Congress members were released two days

KHARTOUM 00001019 002 OF 002


later. According to other Beja Congress members in Kassala,
Jaffer was arrested because he crossed "the red line" by
speaking with U.S. Embassy personnel and the UN. In Kassala,
Poloff and Deskoff spoke with Khartoum-based Beja Congress
member Mohamed Oshake, who recounted that since March the
anti-smuggling police have searched and harassed Beja
Congress members. He described the anti-smuggling police as
military intelligence forces wearing special military
uniforms and driving vehicles without license tags. Oshake
said there was a debate between the military and political
wing of the Eastern Front about whether to use a military or
a political strategy to combat the Sudanese government. When
questioned about the future of Hamesh Koreib, Oshake
expressed his personal view that it was essential that the
Beja Congress retain control of that region. However, he
added that the Eastern Front had not yet determined its plans
for Hamesh Koreib once the SPLA withdrew. In a separate
conversation with the nasir of the Beni Amir tribe, El Sheikh
Ali Digili, the leader stated that he believed there would be
an unavoidable conflict between Betai,s PDF forces and the
Beja Congress because Betai will not accept the re-occupation
of Hamesh Koreib by the Beja Congress.

Rashaida Traditional Leader: The Free Lions and Our Land
-------------- --------------


7. (C) The chief of the Rashaida tribe was visiting Kuwait at
the time of our visit. In a meeting with umda (deputy chief)
of the Rashaida tribe, Hamid Ahmed Hameed El Negashi, he
recounted that the Rashaida created the Free Lions in 1993 to
protest the government,s confiscation of its vehicles and
goods. Negashi stressed that the Rashaida wanted land,
schools, jobs, and participation in the government. He said
that there was no conflict between the Rashaida Free Lions
and the Rashaida umdas, and that the Rashaida Free Lions
could negotiate with the government on behalf of the tribe.
However, he added that the umdas should participate in the
negotiations because they are closer to the people.


8. (C) Negashi said "if we have lived more than 120 years on
the land, how can we have no land?" Although land is a major
issue to Eastern Sudanese, the umda downplayed its importance
by saying that no one owns land in Eastern Sudan because it
all belongs to the government. However, according to local
sources, the land issue is the main problem between the Beja
and Rashaida tribes, because without land the Rashaida are
not viewed an important in the East.


9. (C) Negashi highlighted that the Rashaida have a strong
relationship with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, and Libya,
with a delegation from the National Assembly in Kuwait
visiting the Rashaida in November 2005. Negashi commented
that although the Free Lions signed an agreement with the
Sudanese government, there was no clear indications on the
ground that a peace deal had been reached. Regarding the
Free Lions and Beja Congress union, Negashi said that the
relations were fine now; however, the future relationship is
uncertain.
STEINFELD