SITREP 12: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001282

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D AND AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU MOPS KPKO AU
SUBJECT: SITREP 12: DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT UPDATE

REF: A. KHARTOUM 1262

B. KHARTOUM 1254


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

-- Kiir,s Mini-Summit: June 2
-- Minawi Tours North Darfur
-- AU Describes Needs for Peace Secretariat
-- UNMIS Outlines Thinking on Transition
-- DLO Discusses CONOPS/Advisors with AMIS Force Commander

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Kiir,s Mini-Summit: June 2
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2. (SBU) Roger Winter and Kate Almquist report from Darfur
that VP Salva Kiir,s meeting with Minni Minawi and Abdul
Wahid al-Nur (ref A) has been moved to June 2 in Yei due to
scheduling conflicts. Sam Ibok, head of the AU DPA
Implementation Team, will also attend. Minawi has placed a
high priority on this meeting, recognizing the significance
of a political alliance for the SLM with the SPLM and with
Kiir.


3. (SBU) AMIS Senior Political Officer Ahmed Rufai Abubakar
reports that the May 31 deadline will be extended to
accommodate this change, and the Peace and Security Council
in Addis Ababa will be rescheduled. Poloff cautioned
Abubakar that moving the deadline too often only emboldens
Abdul Wahid and could jeopardize the credibility of the DPA
if Abdul Wahid does not sign. Abubakar responded that the AU
is trying to achieve a balance between giving Abdul Wahid the
opportunity to join the agreement and not giving him the
impression that he can veto the DPA.

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Minawi Tours North Darfur
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4. (SBU) On May 30, Minni Minawi returned to areas north of
Kutum to explain his decision to sign the DPA to his
commanders. Winter and Almquist accompanied him and also
spoke of the support and interest of the United States in
Darfur and the transformation of Sudan. Minawi explained
that the DPA was not perfect, but it was a chance for
security and peace, especially with the support of friends
like the United States, and he asked the commanders to give
it a chance. Minawi was very warmly received and clearly in
command and at ease in his element.


5. (SBU) During the trip, Winter and Almquist asked about
the reports that Minawi had arrested Suleiman Jamoos. SLA
Political Aide Ali Trayo explained that they had not arrested
Jamoos, but did take away his satellite phone because he was
using it to rally supporters against Minawi and the DPA.
USDEL urged that Jamoos be allowed to signal to the outside
world that he is alright, because rumors were circulating
that Jamoos had been arrested and tortured.

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AU Describes Needs for Peace Secretariat
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6. (SBU) As a follow-up to Charge Hume,s meeting with AMIS
Head of Mission Kingibe (ref B),Acting POL Chief and
USAID/OTI Officer met with AMIS Deputy Head of Mission
Monique Mukaruliza and Senior Political Affairs Officer Ahmed
Rufai Abubakar to discuss the details of a Peace Secretariat
to support the DPA. OTI officer showed photos of a building
identified for use by the signatories in El Fasher and laid
out its program, including 3-4 offices and meeting space for

50. The AMIS representatives thought it seemed appropriate
but will study the proposal more carefully. Mukaruliza
explained that the DPA Implementation Team would be given
offices at the current AMIS headquarters in el-Fasher, so
office space for the signatories is all that is needed.
However, there is some concern over where these
Implementation Team members will stay.


7. (SBU) For Khartoum, the AU requested an office building
that could support a range of implementation activities:

-- The DPA Implementation Team, a minimum 10 person group now
working out of the office of a person on leave;

-- The Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation Preparatory
Committee, which will have at least 25 people;

-- The media outreach office, with a minimum of three people

KHARTOUM 00001282 002 OF 002


provided by the UK and arriving next week;

-- Office space for the signatory rebel groups to use while
in Khartoum; and

-- A large conference room/small auditorium where the AU
could give presentations and have larger meetings with
partners and stakeholders.


8. (SBU) Mukaruliza asked how quickly the contractor could
be sent to secure and furnish a building. She said that AMIS
had already run out of office space, so the need for another
facility was immediate and acute.

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UNMIS Outlines Thinking on Transition
--------------


9. (SBU) Acting POL Chief met with UNMIS Darfur Team Leader
Ava Rogers to discuss current UNMIS planning on the
transition from an AU force. Charge Hume had previously
suggested that UNMIS take over non-security aspects of DPA
implementation before the security forces were set to deploy.
This would relieve pressure from AMIS and take advantage of
the UN,s larger capacity for organizing commissions,
delivering humanitarian aid, and providing development
assistance. Rogers recognized that there was eagerness for a
quick transition, but explained that UNMIS planners were
currently divided over the feasibility of this plan. It
could only be done with a clear division of responsibility
and a strong mandate, and must be done in a way that does not
embarrass the AU. While some in UNMIS agree that an early
turnover of non-security responsibilities would help secure
faster DPA implementation, others feel it is better to wait
until the peace keeping forces are ready and take over the
entire mission at one time. All planners feel that any sort
of phased transition of individual responsibilities would be
extremely difficult, so Rogers reiterated that the mandate
would have to be strong and well-defined.
STEINFELD