D-DAY+6: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001210 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND AF A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PHUM UN AU SU SUBJECT: D-DAY+6: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE REF: KHARTOUM 1175 Classified By: Acting P/E Chief Michael Honigstein for reason: 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): -- Getting Abdel Wahid to Sign -- AU Report Increased Arab Militia Activity -- MFA Pledges DPA Support -- Interview with Charge Makes Front Page -- Charge Meets with Yasser Arman -------------- Getting Abdel Wahid to Sign -------------- ¶2. (C) Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) sent the embassy a draft of a declaration developed by Darfur leaders following the May 16 meeting with the Charge (reftel). Mudawi also forwarded a draft Memorandum of Understanding from the SLA in Abuja which it claims, if signed, would allow Abdel Wahid al-Nur to sign the DPA. Both documents seek to clarify DPA and make some additional demands, including a larger commitment to the compensation fund and a redistribution of positions for power sharing. The government could increase the compensations fund within the agreement, but any changes to power sharing would be a significant change. The donor community will not make any contributions to the compensation fund. ¶3. (U) Post has communicated to our contacts that the agreement cannot be renegotiated at this time; they should convince Nur to issue a statement outlining his reservations regarding the agreement and then pledge to work within the mechanism included in the DPA, such as the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) and the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultations (DDDC). -------------- Reports of Increased Arab Militia Activity -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Both the AU and the UN have reported large gatherings of Janjaweed in the vicinities of Khor Abeche, Graida, Kutum, Zalinje, and Kabkabiya. In the Khor Abeche area, the AU investigated a May 19 SLM attack on the Arab village of Niteaga, which appears to be an effort to retrieve rustled cattle. The AU prevented direct retaliation from Arab militias in Niteaga, but UNDSS and NGO reported these militias attacked the village of BajuBaju to the South. NGOs have also reported Janjaweed attacks on May 21 and 22 in Gereida. In response to questions from Post, the AU and UN say that claims of government support to the Janjaweed are unsubstantiated. The AU reports that government forces have engaged Janjaweed in an area southeast of Jebel Marra. -------------- MFA Pledges DPA Support -------------- ¶5. (U) On May 21, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Sammani Al-Waseela called a meeting of all foreign Chiefs of Mission to provide a briefing on the talks in Abuja and explain the Government of National Unity's (GNU) commitment to its full implementation. The State Minister specifically thanked AU Ambassador Kingibe and Charge Hume for their efforts in making the agreement a reality. He said that the GNU would not reopen the agreement to get additional support. ¶6. (U) Al-Waseela welcomed the UN engagement with the GNU over the international body's role in peace and said it is important that it is a partnership. He also emphasized that Sudan does not just need troops, it needs engagement and economic development. He said the marginalization of the periphery is not by choice, it is due to a lackofresources. Sudan would not refuse any help in developing its economy. -------------- Interview with Charge Makes Front Page -------------- ¶7. (U) The Arabic-language Al-Sahafa, the second largest newspaper in Sudan (and largest independent paper),published a front-page interview with Charge Hume that focused on sanctions, the example of Libya, the challenges of implementing the DPA, and the need for UN troops. During the KHARTOUM 00001210 002 OF 002 interview, the Charge explained that if Sudan wanted to normalize relations, it would have to start with ending genocide and implementing the DPA, as well as continue counterterrorism cooperation. The Charge closed the interview, reprinted almost verbatim, by pointing out the great political opportunities that lie ahead: peace, national unification, and elections in 2009. -------------- Charge Meets with Yasser Arman -------------- ¶8. (C) Charge Hume met with SPLM parliamentary leader and de facto Northern Sector chief Yasser Arman to discuss peace talks in the East (septel) and ways the SPLM could support DPA implementation. Arman explained that the SPLM was already considering a meeting between Salva Kiir and Abdel Wahid in Juba to convince him to sign the agreement. HUME