SUDAN/CHAD: MFA WARNS CHARGE OVER CHAD SPOILING DPA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001264 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016 TAGS: PREL CD SU SUBJECT: SUDAN/CHAD: MFA WARNS CHARGE OVER CHAD SPOILING DPA REF: STATE 85835 Classified By: Acting P/E Chief Michael Honigstein for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) On May 30, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of the Americas Department Ambassador Osman El Diridieri summoned the Charge to discuss security threats to the DPA. Diridieri thanked the United States for its support in achieving the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and said that it would not have been possible without this help. In the spirit of working together to support the agreement, Diridieri told Charge that 30 cars loaded with fighters are massing at the Chad border to assault areas under Minni Minawi's control in order to destroy the DPA. He said that the groups were getting support from Chad and asked that the United States use its good offices to intervene with Chadian President Idriss Deby. Diridieri was under instruction from the FM to make the demarche; he had done the same with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and the European Union. ¶2. (C) Charge told Diridieri he would pass on the information to Washington and Ndjamena. He noted that we were aware of some of Chad's activities; in fact, we were in the process of demarching Deby at this very moment (reftel), urging that the government of Chad end all support for those in Darfur unhappy with the DPA. By the same token, the Charge noted, Sudan, particularly at this time, should not be seen in any way supporting anti-Deby rebel movements in Chad. The Charge indicated that the U.S. believes JEM is directly involved in anti-Minni activities, but that if Abdel Wahid can be convinced to sign it will further isolate the JEM movement. Diridieri agreed that JEM was a problem; he also seemed aware of Salva Kiir's attempt to reconcile Minni and Abdel Wahid. In response to a question, Diridieri said that he was unaware of any military engagement by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to help protect Minni, and that it was too soon for military cooperation to have developed between Minawi and the SAF. STEINFELD