SITREP 13: DARFUR SITUATION UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001291 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND AF A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO ABLD ASEC UN AU SU SUBJECT: SITREP 13: DARFUR SITUATION UPDATE ¶1. (U) Summary: The following cable outlines current activities and events relating to the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). - Minawi, AbdelWahid, Kiir meeting set for June 2 - June 1 fighting in North Darfur - NRC to return to South Darfur - Musa Hilal visit to El Geneina - Riots at the University of Al-Azhari -------------- -------------- Minawi, AbdelWahid, Kiir meeting set for June 2 -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The meeting between First Vice President Salva Kiir, SLA Minni Minawi and AbdelWahid is scheduled for June 2 in Yei, South Sudan. On June 1, Minawi is scheduled to travel from North Darfur to Yei via the African Union with Special Representative Roger Winter and Brian D'Silva. On June 2, Kiir from Khartoum and AbdelWahid from Nairobi are expected to travel to Yei. Kiir will meet with Minawi first then both will meet with AbdelWahid with no international parties participating. Kiir will be accompanied by Yassir Arman and Pagan Amum while Minawi and AbdelWahid will be accompanied by a small delegation. ¶3. (SBU) On May 31, Winter, D'Silva, and USAID Mission Director Almquist met with the ICRC in North Darfur to discuss the possibilities of further treatment for the SLA/Minawi war wounded. Minawi has requested medical assistance for 300 wounded combatants, probably in terms of orthopedic assistance. Winter will seek further clarification on the type of medical assistance requested and Almquist will discuss with the ICRC in Khartoum. ¶4. (SBU) As requested, Winter has alerted Kiir and Minawi to forthcoming invitations to visit Washington. Both responded positively and look forward to receiving formal invitations. Neither gave specific feedback on proposed dates for the respective visits. -------------- North Darfur Fighting -------------- ¶5. (U) There was reported fighting in the North Darfur towns of Tarama, Tabit and Khoudiat. The African Union is organizing a road evacuation to El Fasher for the wounded people. There is no further information on causalities. -------------- NRC to return to South Darfur -------------- ¶6. (U) On May 30, the government of South Darfur and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) signed a new contract for NRC to resume its activities in South Darfur including managing Kalma Camp and food distributions to 50,000 IDP's. NRC expects full operations to resume within the next two weeks. Norway's DCM told us that, during negotiations, it was clear there was a new attitude on the part of the government; the Wali had been instructed to facilitate NGO activities. The contract includes protection and is, notably, for one year. -------------- Musa Hilal visits El Geneina -------------- ¶7. (SBU) On May 30, Musa Hilal, top Arab militia leader in Darfur, visited El Geneina and met with state government officials. Hilal reportedly vented his feelings of betrayal by the GNU for signing DPA and deplored the GNU's rejection of Arab militias; however, he added that the militias were tired of fighting and that he would urge his supporters to stop their attacks in Darfur. Hilal claimed that the men under his command have been instructed to patrol Fur tribal areas to provide protection to the population remaining in those areas. He said that he planned to tour Darfur to work on reconciliation among the various ethnic groups and will conduct public information campaigns targeting Arab groups to promote peace. Hilal has reportedly spread the message to some of his followers not to harm international aid agencies. -------------- Student Riots against DPA -------------- ¶8. (U) On May 30, a small group of students supporting AbdelWahid at the University of Al-Azhari protested against the DPA, torching a lecturer's vehicle and attacking the KHARTOUM 00001291 002 OF 002 library. Fifteen students were arrested. STEINFELD STEINFELD