D-DAY+7: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001226

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+7: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

REF: A. KHARTOUM 1210


B. KHARTOUM 1207

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):

-- Charge meets with State Minister Al-Waseela
-- WFP Returns to Protest Sites, AU CIVPOL Waits
-- IRC Staff Continues to be Held or Harassed

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Charge meets with State Minister Al-Waseela
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2. (C) On May 23, State Minister for Foreign Affairs
Al-Sammani Al-Waseela requested a meeting with Charge Hume to
discuss DPA implementation. The government's Deputy
Permanent Representative to the UN also attended the meeting.
The Charge told Al-Waseela that the government must improve
relations with INGOs. Al-Waseela was unaware of the level of
harassment towards these organizations. The Charge pointed
out that Sudan's actions toward humanitarian organizations
greatly affect Sudan's international relationships, so the
MFA should become involved. The Charge also said that the
government should move quickly to allow the UN to broadcast
in Darfur. The meeting was reported in Al-Wihda newspaper,
which emphasized U.S. offers of support to the African Union
(AU) and U.S. support for the deployment of UN forces.

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WFP Returns to Protest Sites, AU CIVPOL Waits
--------------


3. (U) The World Food Program announced it will resume food
distributions in the Abu Shouk and Al Salaam Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP) camps on May 25. Activities were
suspended for security reasons after a series of violent
demonstrations in those camps last week. AU CIVPOL has yet
to return to these camps, as well as the Zam Zam, Kalma,
Kass, Nertiti and Zeleingi camps, after pulling out following
direct threats from the IDP populations during the protests.
GOAL has resumed activities in Kutum and Kassab IDP camps
after halting operations for nearly a week when one of its
vehicles was hijacked. On May 22, there was another INGO
(MSF-Spain) vehicle hijacked in the same area. The AU
reports that security in other areas, including regions where
they had previously reported a build-up of Janjaweed forces
(ref A),had returned to calm.

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IRC Staff Continues to be Held or Harassed
--------------


4. (U) Two paralegals employed by the International Rescue
Committee (IRC) continue to report to National Security (NS)
daily after being arrested on May 16 for planning the May 13
demonstrations around Nyala. The employees deny any role in
the demonstrations, but were arrested with 8 others facing
similar accusations. One of the individuals was held by NS
for two days and then released with 6 other detainees. Since
that time, he has had to report to the NS daily, arriving at
8 am and then being allowed to leave at 3 pm without talking
to anyone. The NS told them that he would be fully released
on May 24. The second paralegal is one of three that remain
in custody without contact. One employee of CARE was also
among the five arrested and released. It is unclear if these
arrests relate to the arrest of the two lawyers (ref B) who
have now been released but ordered to report to NS daily.
HUME