D-DAY+5: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001207

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR D AND AF A/D FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO UN AU SU
SUBJECT: D-DAY+5: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

REF: A. STATE 81570

B. STATE 81592

C. IIR 6890364 06

Classified By: Acting P/E Chief Michael Honigstein for reasons: Section
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: The following outlines current activities
and events relating to the implementation of the Darfur Peace
Agreement (DPA):

-- Charge Meets with AU Ambassador
-- Meeting with SAF Operations Chief
-- Lawyers Arrested in Nyala
-- Pronk Calls Donor Meeting

--------------
Charge Meets with AU Head of Mission
--------------


2. (C) CDA Hume and USAID director Almquist met AU head of
mission Kingibe to discuss support for DPA implementation.
Hume explained that the USG was ready to offer immediate,
tangible support for DPA implementation, including efforts to
garner more public support for the agreement (ref A and B).
Almquist explained the possibility of supporting
establishment of an operation that would provide a venue and
resources for public outreach in Darfur, as well as begin a
core of activity for beginning work on the Darfur-Darfur
Dialogue. They asked if the AU would be interested in such
collaboration with the USG. Kingibe welcomed this approach.
The AU secretariat had discussed possible steps to conduct
public outreach on behalf of the peace agreement, and Sam
Ibok would arrive in Khartoum this week to start the AU's
implementation efforts. But the AU needed exactly the kind
of resources envisaged for public outreach. The two sides
agreed to meet later in the week to prepare a specific, joint
proposal for early action. Kingibe also urged the USG to
proceed with the temporary assignment of a liaison officer to
help Minawi's faction deal with the challenges of DPA
implementation.

--------------
Meeting with SAF Operations Chief
--------------


3. (C) Charge Hume and Defense Liaison Office (DLO)
representative met with Lt. Gen. Ismat Abd Elrahman Zain
Elabdeen, Chief of Joint Operations for the Sudanese Armed
Forces (SAF) to discuss implementation of the DPA. Charge
discussed plans for NATO support to the AU, possible
military-to-military relations between the USG and SAF to
support the DPA, and general support of the DPA, especially
by providing Mini Minawi a military advisor. Ismat responded
that he, and President Bashir, appreciated the U.S. efforts
to bring peace. He believed it was a good idea to provide
military advice to Minawi, as the SLA would need a great deal
of support fulfilling its responsibilities under the DPA.
Ismat welcomed the quick deployment of NATO support to help
bolster the peace accord. Please see for ref C for more
information.

--------------
Lawyers Arrested in Nyala
--------------


4. (SBU) Two human rights lawyers, Mossaad Mohamed Ali and
Adam Mohaed Shareif, were arrested by Sudanese national
security in Nyala on May 16. The charges are unclear. The
lawyers work for the Amel Center of Nyala, which counsels
victims of rape, abuse and torture. The center has received
previous USAID funding. Since their arrest, Shareif has
been released overnight but asked to return daily, while
there has been no contact with Ali. The UN has been promised
access to Ali every day since they discovered the arrest, but
it has yet to materialize. The Charge will bring this issue
up with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at a meeting
on May 22.

--------------
Pronk Calls Donor Meeting
--------------


5. (U) On May 20 SRSG Jan Pronk called a meeting with donor
countries to outlined four major issues regarding the Darfur
Peace Agreement (DPA); its implementation, broadening support
for the DPA, the humanitarian situation and strengthening
AMIS. Pronk believed that the GNU and the SLA, despite their
reservations, were committed to the DPA. He said that the
GNU had assured him that they would not speak out negatively
about the Security Council resolution and added that the UN

KHARTOUM 00001207 002 OF 002


needed assistance with obtaining a radio license to broadcast
information about the DPA, at the Security Council's request.
Pronk commented that during his visit to Darfur the main
question was whether the DPA would stop the Janjaweed. He
thanked the USG for the additional food contributions and
cautioned that spoilers would manipulate unrest during food
distributions in Darfur. He added that AMIS needed to be
strengthened and needed technical assistance to create a new
budget for a donors conference possibly in June. Pronk
suggested a Khartoum based "Friends of Darfur" group.


6. (SBU) Charge Hume commented that the USG expected the UN
to lead the humanitarian efforts and that the international
community must support the African Union. The Charge and the
UK representative expressed their support for a "Friends of
Darfur" group. The UK representative stated that it was
contemplating providing the SLA offices in Khartoum and
English language training. The Nigerians, according to the
British, are also planning to provide English language
training to the SLA. The Indian and E.C. representatives
stated that even if the GNU supported the UN there would be
"groups", i.e. terrorists, against them. Pronk responded that
the international community has to make sure terrorist groups
do not find refuge in Sudan. The Pakistani representative,
as a troop contributing country, inquired whether UN
peacekeepers would have the mandate to arrest the Janjaweed.
Pronk responded that the mandate had not yet been issued.
HUME