D-DAY: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001164 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: D-DAY: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE ¶1. (U) Summary: The following cable outlines current activities and events relating to the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA): -- DPA: D-Day and the First Week -- INGOs Consider Pulling Out of West Darfur -- Kutum Sees First Janjaweed Attack Since DPA -- CDA Hosts Diplomatic Corp on DPA -- Darfur Leaders Speak-Out -- U.S. Invited to Meeting with Leaders Considering DPA -------------- DPA: D-Day and the First Week -------------- ¶2. (U) The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has designated May 16 as D-Day, and the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) officially enters into force at 18:00 GMT on that day. Required activities for the first week (up to D 7) include: release of detainees to ICRC begins (D-Day),release of child soldiers (D-Day),cessation of hostilities (D 3), reconstitution of Cease-Fire Commission at Force Headquarters (D 3),establishment of the implementation team (D 5), establishment of the Logistics Coordination Committee (D 5), development of the sensitization strategy and dissemination of the DPA (D 5),development of a plan for policing party Control Areas, Buffer and Demilitarized Zones (D 6), preparations for Phases I-III (D 7),and establishment of sector cease fire sub-commissions (D 7). -------------- INGOs Consider Pulling Out of West Darfur -------------- ¶3. (U) INGOs continue to face security concerns in West Darfur. On May 15, Save the Children reported that a convoy was ambushed at 14:00 local, and their team was robbed at gunpoint. Meanwhile, in the Riyad camp, the Humanitarian Assistance Comission's (HAC) office was burned down by residents of the camp. Although no one was hurt in either case, many INGOs had already been discussing leaving West Darfur before these incidents. -------------- Kutum Sees First Janjaweed Attack Since DPA -------------- ¶4. (U) The newspapers are reporting the first attack attributed to the Janjaweed since the signing of the DPA. According to reports, around 500 Janjaweed attacked villages in the area of Kutum, North Darfur, killing 15 and taking 1,000 heads of cattle. The SAF is working to control the situation, and the AU has already begun its investigation. -------------- CDA Host Diplomatic Core on DPA -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On May 15, the Charge d'Affaires (CDA) hosted a meeting of twenty members of the diplomatic corps to discuss the DPA. The general consensus was that Abdel Wahid must sign the agreement in order to get the support of the Fur, the largest single ethnic group, but stigmatizing those who have not signed risks closing the door for future agreement. Currently, there is a lack of good information, with disinformation and opposition mounting. Information must be disseminated widely, quickly, and thoroughly, perhaps through radio. There was some concern about the possibility of using radio, considering the UN's difficulty in getting permission to broadcast messages in support of the CPA. Many felt that the government's ability and willingness to implement the DPA is limited by its hesitancy to antagonize Arab groups, many of whom believe the DPA works against them. This includes the fears of creating a "greater Zagahwa nation" that includes parts of Chad and Libya. -------------- Darfur Leaders Speak-Out -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On May 16, a group of Darfurian leaders came to the Embassy to discuss the DPA with the CDA. The leaders, who represented a range of ethnic groups and political parties, said the primary demand was adequate individual compensation before Darfurians will support the agreement. The Charge explained that the international community cannot assist with individual compensation, which is estimated at over USD 600 million if USD 1,000 is given to every family, but that the international community is standing by to help provide the resources each family needs to recover and return to a normal life. This cannot be done, however, until there is peace and security. KHARTOUM 00001164 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) All agreed that the Darfur-Darfur dialogue could succeed in promoting reconciliation if it were done properly and led by a neutral party. They said that they did not trust the Government of Sudan to be fair, and they thought the African Union has lost all credibility. The CDA responded that the AU is the best mechanism available to them, and that the international community will work to make it a success. The Darfurians should also look at ways to strengthen the AU rather than simply say it does not work. With regards to power sharing, group members expressed reservations about the lack of a vice-president position, and were afraid that selected officials would not represent all Darfurians. The Charge explained that the best way to address these concerns was to work within the agreement and find a genuine leader who could gain trust outside of ethnic divides. -------------- -------------- U.S. Invited to Meeting with Leaders Considering DPA -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) During a visit to El Fasher, Embassy POLOFF was approached by an employee of the Sudanese Development Organization (SUDO) who said that there will be a meeting of SLA commanders who have not signed the DPA on May 18 in the Northern Sudan town of Hamaraia. He said that the leaders were "confused" about the DPA but were keeping an open mind, and that a U.S. representative would be welcome. Attendees would include Jar Anlabi, a Zaghawa SLA Field Commander; Suleiman Marajan, a Midoub SLA commander; Suleiman Jamoos, who recently defected to the SLA from the Turabi's Popular Congress Party (PCP); and Osman Bushra, an SLA commander based in Libya. Also expected at the meeting were two opponents of the accord, SLA commander Dr. Sharif Harir and JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim. Post has declined this invitation because of security concerns. HUME