Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001514 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN GROUP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian Access - June 27, 2006 REF: Khartoum 1361 ¶1. Security Update: ¶A. The security situation in North Darfur remains tense. Reports have been received of Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) factional clashes, confrontations between Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups, and aggressive posturing of the SLA faction led by Abdul Wahid. ¶B. On June 27, USAID partner Relief International (RI) reported that RI staff in Tawila received a formal letter from the SLA/Wahid faction on June 24 ordering the relocation of all non-Fur staff. The house of a Zaghawa employee was vandalized by Fur elements believed to be SLA/Wahid on June 26. RI has since relocated the man and one other Zaghawa employee to El Fasher. RI is assembling staff in El Fasher from June 29 to July 2 for discussions regarding next steps but has not expressed any plan to suspend or discontinue activities in the Tawila area. ¶C. RI also described alleged SLA/Wahid plans to stage an attack on SLA/Minawi forces in Tawila. Observers fear that if an attack occurs, SLA/Wahid combatants may seek refuge in the internally displaced persons (IDP) gathering situated near the compound of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and that SLA/Minawi forces may storm the area. AMIS is currently patrolling Tawila and surrounding villages, but this action may not be enough to deter an attack. ¶D. On June 27, AMIS reported small but widespread harassment of civilian populations by Arab militias, SLA elements, and bandits in North Darfur. ¶E. On June 27, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that several attacks on several villages located north of Tawila have occurred in recent days. The UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) confirmed one attack on June 25 and reported livestock stolen, four civilians killed, and an unknown number of women raped. ¶2. Humanitarian Access Update: ¶A. On June 26, the GNU authorized UN agencies to resume operations in Darfur. On June 25, the Sudanese government had ordered the suspension of all UN programs in Darfur, except those of the World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). The suspension did not result in a deterioration of the humanitarian situation. The GNU ordered the suspension on the grounds that the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) overstepped its mandate when UNMIS reportedly flew the former SLA/Minawi humanitarian coordinator from North Darfur to Southern Kordofan State. ¶B. As per reftel, on May 20, SLA/Minawi allegedly arrested SLA humanitarian coordinator Sulayman Jamous, accused of not supporting the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),which SLA/Minawi signed in early May. On June 14, a UN team visited Jamous. On June 22, Jamous was released to UNMIS and taken to El Fasher under UN protection. On June 24, an UNMIS helicopter reportedly transported Jamous from El Fasher in North Darfur to Kadugli in Southern Kordofan. GNU officials stated that the action constituted a violation of Sudan's sovereignty. ¶C. This incident has significantly strained the relationship between UNMIS, UNDSS, and GNU officials in North Darfur. In addition, on June 22, an UNMIS human rights team reportedly picked up a wounded SLA/Wahid combatant and transported him via helicopter to El Fasher. GNU police were waiting at the airport when the UNMIS helicopter landed and took the combatant into custody. The SLA/Wahid have interpreted this event as an UNMIS attempt to make amends with the GNU and are now mistrustful of UNMIS impartiality. HUME