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