D-DAY+1: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001175 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND AF A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF EFIN UN AU SU SUBJECT: D-DAY+1: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE REF: A. KHARTOUM 1174 ¶B. KHARTOUM 1164 Classified By: Acting P/E Chief Michael Honigstein for reason: section 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Summary: The following cable outlines current activities and events relating to the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA): -- JAM Planning Begins -- Khalifa Outlines GNU Strategy for Implementation -- Darfur Leaders Support DPA After Meeting -- Minawi Outreach Has Begun -- Media Reports Mixed Reaction to UNSC Resolution -- GNU Offers More Aid, More Freedom to Aid Workers -------------- JAM Planning Begins -------------- ¶2. (U) Planning for the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) and the Donors' Conference has already begun, led by the UN, the World Bank (WB),and key donors. On May 15, the Dutch Ambassador convened a meeting with the UN, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministries of Finance and International Cooperation, the WB, the European Commission, the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom to review the state of JAM planning and the preparations for the Darfur Donors' Conference. The conference has been tentatively set for early October, which allows for an assessment of early recovery needs (the first 18-24 months) while maintaining momentum. The Darfur JAM will take place in two phases or tracks. The first phase will focus on humanitarian and recovery interventions, while the second phase will cover reconstruction and development. During the meeting, at the behest of State Minister of Finance Lual Deng, the WB also introduced the possibility of a third phase, debt relief. That suggestion was tabled. -------------- --- Khalifa Outlines GNU Strategy for Implementation -------------- --- ¶3. (C) On May 17, Charge Hume met with Government of National Unity (GNU) Presidential Advisor and Chief Darfur Negotiator Dr. Magzoub al-Khalifa to discuss the DPA. The Charge outlined U.S. plans to support the DPA by assisting the African Union (AU) in building its capacity. Khalifa explained that the GNU had been meeting with a variety of groups to broaden support for the peace and encourage them to promote the DPA to their followers. Khalifa also said that he had already started coordinating with Minni Minawi to ;provide better security throughout Darfur. Additionally, the GNU has met with leaders of every Arab tribe and delivered a strong warning: any Arab militia that breaches the peace will be dealt with immediately and harshly. On the UN, Khalifa said he welcomed the Security Council Resolution and the government is ready to begin consultations on a UN force and its mandate. COMMENT: Khalifa is so far the only senior official to take such a positive line on UN peace-keeping in Darfur. End Comment. Please see ref A for more detail. -------------- Darfur Leaders Support DPA After Meeting -------------- ¶4. (C) Following the May 16 meeting with the Charge d'Affaires (ref B) the Darfur Leaders from the event met at the offices of the Darfur Forum for Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistance. While they would still like to see some supplements to the DPA, they decided to lend their support to the agreement and promote its acceptance. They also plan on encouraging Adbel Wahid al-Nur to sign the DPA, and were developing a proposal that allows him to do so and still save face. Note: One participant, Dr. Abdul Gassim, is Nur's father-in-law. End note. -------------- Minawi Outreach Has Begun -------------- ¶5. (C) Ali Traio, lead negotiator for Minni Minawi in Abuja, contacted Charge Hume today from an area outside El-Fashir where he said he was promoting the DPA. Traio reported that it was going well, and the situation on the ground seemed to be calming. He also indicated that he may need some assistance with this task from the USG in the future. -------------- -- Media Reports Mixed Reaction to UNSC Resolution KHARTOUM 00001175 002 OF 002 -------------- -- ¶6. (U) According to media outlets, official reaction to the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Darfur was mixed. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Sammi Al-Waseela reiterated GNU objections to UN rehatting, and emphasized his support for the AU and his hope that the Arab League would provide financial aid (Al-Ayaam). Ambassador Mohammed Bashir, deputy representative to the UN, was quoted as saying the resolution ignored the particularities of Darfur, including its long tradition of opposition to outside forces (Al-Adwaa). The official Sudan News Agency Bulletin, meanwhile, dedicated two pages to Foreign Minister Lam Akol's remarks at the AU Peace and Security Council, which reiterated opposition to rehatting and emphasized troop deployment would require direct dialogue between the UN and the GNU. Minister of Information Al-Zahawai Ibrahim also spoke about the need for dialogue and added that acceptance of UN forces would depend on its mandate and the timeframe of operations (Al-Rai Al-Aam). Finally, the hardline Al-Intibaha published an editorial from Al-Tayib Mustafa, former minister and uncle of the president, who urged the government to remember its past promises and not "succumb to pressures made by the UNSC." -------------- --- GNU Offers More Aid, More Freedom to Aid Workers -------------- --- ¶7. (U) On May 15, the GNU announced that it would help make up the shortfall in food aid with an immediate donation of 20,000 metric tons to the World Food Progam (WFP). Vice-President Ali Osman Taha also said that the government has already allocated USD 67 million to rehabilitation and development in Darfur this year. The food donation is a break from the previous GNU practice of loaning food aid to the WFP. ¶8. (U) At the same time, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Kosti Manyebi held a meeting with INGOs to announce that all travel restrictions in Darfur would be lifted for the next three months, with the possibility of a permanent removal. He cautioned that INGOs would still have to respect local administrators and the government's advisory role. Manyebi said he believes the DPA marks a new page for rallying assistance to the needy. The Embassy will track the effect of this announcement on INGO operations in Darfur. HUME