UPDATE ON DARFUR VIOLENCE: FORCES GATHER AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001668

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO PGOV US CH AU UN SU
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR VIOLENCE: FORCES GATHER AGAINST
SLM/A-MINAWI

REF: A. KHARTOUM 01648

B. KHARTOUM 01637

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: SLM/A leader Minni Minawi reports that
forces, including Chadian regulars, have crossed the Chadian
border to link with JEM and G-19 troops to attack Minawi,s
positions northwest of Birmaza. He is concerned that the
international community is not doing enough to support the
Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),and that many groups are
actively trying to sabotage it. Minawi asked for USG
assistance to pressure AMIS and UNMIS to verify the
cross-border incursion and take action to prevent attacks on
his forces. Minawi may try to postpone his trip to
Washington as a result of these recent developments. END
SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
HEAVILY ARMED FORCES MAY BE MOVING ON MINAWI,S POSITIONS
-------------- --------------


2. (C) S/CRS Senior Security Advisor Tod Wilson met with
SLM/A leader Minni Minawi July 14 to discuss recent ceasefire
violations and ongoing security threats against his faction.
According to Minawi, who had arrived back from Cairo the same
day, one of his checkpoints along the Chadian border at Bahia
had been attacked and then bypassed by 34 heavily armed
vehicles. Armaments included 12.7 mm and 14.7 mm
machineguns, 106 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, and RPGs.
He claimed that Chadian regulars were among the personnel.



3. (C) Minawi,s intelligence reports indicated that these
troops had linked up with 21 JEM and G-19 vehicles and were
moving to attack his own forces northwest of Birmaza in the
general vicinity of Muzbat and Lill. He believed some of
these troops would then split off and move towards Korma (Ref
A) in an attempt to seize this area from SLM/A-Minawi units,
turn it over to JEM and G-19 elements, and then cross back
into Chad. Minawi insisted that Chadian President Deby had
authorized this action in an effort to &break the peace
agreement.8 He believed, however, that if the true nature
of this force was verified and publicized, these enemy troops
would have no choice but to break off their attack.


-------------- --------------
NEED TO PRESS AMIS/UNMIS TO VERIFY INCURSION ALLEGATIONS
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Minawi was concerned that the Darfur Peace Agreement
(DPA) would not be able to stand on its own and complained
there were many groups attempting to sabotage the peace
process. He criticized the international community for not
doing enough to support DPA implementation. Minawi was
hoping to see the AMIS Force Commander to demand that AMIS
verify his claims. He asked that the USG and other members
of the international community in Sudan press AMIS and the UN
to take action and stop the attack. He indicated he was
considering notifying the GNU so that they could confirm this
cross-border incursion and register an international
complaint.


5. (C) Wilson immediately informed the AMIS watch officer of
Minawi,s allegations and requested AMIS do everything in its
power to verify this report and prevent the expected
fighting. The UNMIS regional coordinator could not be
contacted. However, Wilson notified the UNDSS director and
asked him to use UNMIS assets to both confirm the treat and
press AMIS to intercede.

--------------
MINAWI MAY POSTPONE TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON
--------------


6. (C) Minawi hinted at the need to postpone his trip to
Washington by several days. Wilson informed him that
high-level Washington meetings took months to reschedule, and
that rescheduling at this late date may not even be possible.
Minawi responded that he may only need to delay a day or two
and was told that any decision to change his itinerary would
need to be passed to Washington within the next two days.



6. (C) If Minawi continues as planned, he requested Embassy
Khartoum assistance in linking his advance team in Khartoum
with GoSS President Salva Kiir's people to facilitate his
travel into Juba and on to Nairobi. He specifically needs
their permission to fly to Juba. Minawi,s Khartoum
coordinator is Dr. Hassan Hashim Elfasher, with whom Embassy

KHARTOUM 00001668 002 OF 002


Khartoum is in contact (Ref B).
HUME