SLM ADVANCE TEAM PROVIDES UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001635

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV PINR PHUM US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: SLM ADVANCE TEAM PROVIDES UPDATE

Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section: 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The SLM advance team, now in place in
Khartoum, numbers around 112 individuals. Chairman Abdul
Karim noted its efforts to propagate the Darfur Peace
Agreement and welcomed U.S. Government efforts to advance its
implementation. The SLM seeks African Union support for the
process, and has established commissions to organize itself
for the next steps. The SLM requested office supplies and
equipment, and a medical clinic. Finally, SLM Secretary
General Tereib has joined the advance team; he said that
Minni Minawi has decided to put forth his own name to serve
as Senior Assistant to the President. End summary.

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SLM Advance Team Seeks Progress in DPA Implementation
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2. (C) On July 4, Pol/Econ Chief and Pol/Econ Officer met
with 10 representatives of the SLM/Minni Minawi advance team
in Khartoum at the Green Village Hotel. The advance
delegation chair, Bakhit Abdul Karim, welcomed the visit and
invited ongoing dialogue. He expressed appreciation for the
U.S. Government's role in the Abuja peace talks, and the
personal involvement of the Deputy Secretary. Abdul Karim,
however, also indicated disappointment at the apparent
withdrawal by the international community on commitments to
the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA); the absence of efforts
encourages those who did not sign the agreement, weakening
it. He said that the SLM was undertaking several practical
steps toward DPA implementation, including:

-- implementing the ceasefire agreement in all areas;

-- telling Darfurians about the DPA;

-- opening roads and allowing the free passage of relief
goods;

-- pursuing peaceful coexistence, and interaction among
Darfurians;

-- holding ceremonies to delebrate the agreement; and

-- sending the advance delegation to Khartoum to hold
meetings with representatives of the GNU, joint committees,
embassies, non-governmental organizations, citizens, and
political parties.

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SLM Pleased with USG Efforts, Seeks Continued Dialogue
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3. (C) In response, Pol/Econ Chief outlined USG-supported
efforts to establish DPA Implementation Offices both in
Khartoum and El Fasher, the role of the Security Advisor to
Minni Minawi, meetings with the SLM Secretary General and
SPLM representatives in El Fasher, participation in the
Darfur Joint Assessment Mission workshop in Nairobi, frequent
consultations with the GNU and other donors, and the upcoming
pledging conferences in Brussels and the Netherlands. Abdul
Karim was pleased to hear of these activities, and requested
ongoing dialogue about further efforts to support DPA
implementation.

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SLM Looks for AU Role; Outlines DPA Implementation Plans
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4. (C) Information Committee Head Saifaldin Haroun, who had
served as translator for the Chair, added that the SLM had
found African Union (AU) offices to be empty and tangible AU
support lacking (Note: a reference to the departure of AU
staff to attend the Banjul Peace and Security Council meeting
and AU Summit. End note.) He believed that the DPA
implementation timetables were in need of renewal, and that
the AU needed to serve as its guarantor. Human Rights
Advisor Zanoun Tijane welcomed the discussion, and said it
would be important to work with the U.S. Government in
establishing effective specialized DPA commissions, while
continuing to press the JEM and SLM/Abdel Wahid factions to
sign the DPA. He said the SLM/Minni Minawi faction's
philosophy is to hold to a ceasefire, build a peace process
step by step, and start a dialogue with all stakeholders.
Regarding international community support for the DPA, he
thinks all consultations should involve the SLM and select
targets from within the SLM/Abdel Wahid faction to persuade
to support the DPA. He questioned the will, experience, and
ability of the AU to serve as an effective DPA implementing
force.

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SLM's Plans for a DPA Roadshow; Forms Internal Organs
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5. (C) Abdul Karim said that after providing an orientation
to the DPA, the SLM plans to move to cities and areas under
government control in Darfur to hold workshops on the DPA.
He said that the SLM had formed several commissions
(media/information, legal, fiscal, security, DPA
implementation, and administrative bodies) to organize itself
to move ahead with DPA implementation and to assume seats
through power sharing arrangements. Others commented that
the SLM is still working on names of those who would serve on
the various DPA committees and commissions.


6. (C) Abdul Karim said that the advance team involved
roughly 90 individuals. Accommodations were sufficient, he
said, although he was not aware that the GNU was providing
any further support. He said that the SLM needed office
supplies and equipment, to include Internet access, and a
medical clinic.

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Dismissal of SLM Spokesman Confirmed; Hussein Now Acting
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7. (C) When asked about the recent dismissal of SLM spokesman
al-hajj, he stated that al-Hajj had chosen to offer his
personal views from abroad. No longer following SLM
decisions made in Sudan, the Secretary General relieved
al-Hajj of his post and asked him to return to Sudan within
30 days. Failing to do so will result in his ousting from
the movement. In his stead, Mahgoub Hussein will serve as
acting spokesman.

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Minni Minawi to Seek Post as Senior Advisor to President
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8. (C) On July 10, post learned from SLM contacts that SLM
Secretary General Tereib had just arrived in Khartoum from El

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Fasher, and had said that Minni Minawi had agreed to put his
name forward to serve as Senior Assistant to the President.
HUME