SITREP 10 (D-DAY+9): DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001253 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND AF A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016 TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO EAID UN AU SU SUBJECT: SITREP 10 (D-DAY+9): DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE REF: A. KHARTOUM 1240 ¶B. KHARTOUM 1207 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): -- Inter-SLA Birmaza Fighting Continues -- Sudan Accepts Joint assessment Mission -- Charge Holds Follow-Up with Kingibe -- AMIS Delivers draft CONOPS -- Car hijackings in Saraf Omar -------------- Inter-SLA Birmaza Fighting Continues -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Fighting in the Minni Minawi stronghold of Birmaza is continuing today, May 25, after a fighting on May 24 reportedly left 10 dead and another 15 wounded (ref A). Ali Trayo, cousin of Minawi and his lead negotiator, called CDA Hume from North Darfur and said that he was under heavy attack from a coalition of the Sharif Harir, Ali Shogar, and JEM, armed by regular Chad forces under Daoussa Deby. The Embassy has raised this incident with AU Head of Mission Kingibe, the UN, AMIS, and other members of the international community. Kingibe told Charge Hume that he was considering issuing a joint statement with UN SRSG Jan Pronk condemning ceasefire violations. -------------- Sudan Accepts Joint Assessment Mission -------------- ¶3. (U) During a briefing with Chiefs of Mission on May 25 (septel),Un Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said that the government of Sudan has a greed to accept a joint assessment team from the AU and the UN to look at current AMIS needs and a possible transition to UN forces. -------------- Charge Holds Follow-Up with Kingibe -------------- ¶4. (C) On May 26, CDA Hume, with USAID Director Almquist, met AU Head of Mission Kingibe to follow-up his previous meeting (ref B) and discuss USG support for DPA implementation. A full account of the meeting will be sent septel. -------------- AMIS Delivers draft CONOPS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) AMIS delivered a draft of the revised concepts of operations (CONOPS) under the DPA. The report calls for a more robust force with strengthened command and control, aggressive and intensive patrols, preventive deployments, and the ability to interpose between fighting groups when necessary. The new peacekeeping force would also do forceful disarmament when necessary. The CONOPS reduces the number of sectors from 8 to 3, with 4 battalions and a Brigadier General in each sector that has tactical command. Other additions to readiness include attack helicopter groups, a platoon ready to deploy with one-hour notice to resolve crises, and a quick reaction force in every sector that could deploy on short notice and stay deployed for up to two weeks. -------------- Car hijackings in Saraf Omar -------------- ¶6. (U) On May 23, shooting occurred between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and men attempting to hijack an NGO vehicle in Saraf Omar. One SAF officer was killed and at least ten more people were injured. In the same region on May 24, AMIS reported that suspected Chadian rebels stole a vehicle belonging to a local commissioner. SAF soldiers pursued were able to capture two of the thieves after fighting that left two SAF and four culprits dead. This follows a hijacking of an OXFAM vehicle in the town on May 10 . The driver in that incident is still missing. HUME