Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1772
2006-07-24 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

DISCOURAGING AU MEETING WITH G-19 RAISES MANY

Tags:  PREL MOPS KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9242
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1772/01 2051231
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241231Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3858
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001772 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: DISCOURAGING AU MEETING WITH G-19 RAISES MANY
QUESTIONS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001772

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: DISCOURAGING AU MEETING WITH G-19 RAISES MANY
QUESTIONS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: AU DPA implementation lead Ambassador Sam
Ibok held a harrowing, but fruitless meeting with members of
the G-19 SLM/A-Minawi breakaway group. The G-19 sees little
utility in engaging with the African Union (AU),which they
believe will soon be replaced by a UN peacekeeping operation
willing to reopen the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Ibok is
pessimistic about his own organization,s capabilities,
unless dramatic changes are made soon. Ibok is traveling to
New York July 23-26 and hopes to raise these issues with the
UN. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
AU DPA HEAD SAM IBOK HOLDS ROADSIDE MEETING WITH G-19
-------------- --------------


2. (C) AU Lead for DPA Implementation Ambassador Sam Ibok met
with members of the G-19 splinter group in North Darfur on
April 21. Ibok flew into Korma from El Fasher and attempted
to travel by land to Birmaza, the site of recent fighting
between the G-19 and SLM/A-Minawi,s forces. However, the
G-19 rebels intercepted Ibok and his AMIS escort half way
into their journey, warning them they could not guarantee the
safety of the AU/AMIS convoy if they traveled further. Thus,
Ibok was forced to hold his meeting with the rebels where
they had stopped on the road. However, shortly after
discussion started, they were interrupted by a &random8 SAF
patrol. The rebels accused AMIS of planning an ambush and
fled into the mountains. Meanwhile, Ibok placed a call to
military contacts in Khartoum demanding that they call off
the patrol that threatened not only to scuttle the meeting,
but place his delegation in the middle of a firefight. After
some tense negotiation, the SAF patrol withdrew and Ibok
coaxed the rebels back for a short and ultimately fruitless
discussion.

--------------
IS PRONK PROMISING TO REOPEN DPA?

--------------


3. (C) Ibok had hoped to create some political space to
separate fighting G-19 and SLM/A-Minawi forces, but his
attempts to open some initial lines of communication were
firmly rebuffed by the G-19 representatives. The rebels
instead accused AMIS of collaborating with the GNU and
supporting SLM/A-Minawi forces, and therefore of being
incapable of negotiating in good faith. More importantly,
the G-19 saw little reason to establish a relationship with
the AU, which it believed would soon be replaced by UN
forces. The rebels reportedly claimed that SRSG Jan Pronk
had told them that once UNMIS replaced AMIS, the UN would
reopen the DPA to resolve their compensation, disarmament,
and power sharing grievances, and therefore the AU had
nothing to offer.


4. (C) Ibok asked the rebels if they were at least willing to
engage in discussions with SLM/A leader Minni Minawi to end
the recent skirmishes in the region and return to the
cease-fire status quo. The rebels responded that they had
already defeated Minawi,s forces in the Birmaza area and
therefore had no need to meet with Minawi. Finally, Ibok
demanded that the G-19 return vehicles and arms it had stolen
from AMIS earlier that week, but the rebels refused,
explaining that AMIS, support of SLM/A-Minawi made them
legitimate targets. In closing, the rebels informed Ibok
that they would soon finalize an agreement among SLM/A leader
Abdel Wahid, General Najib, Souleman Marjan, Suleiman Jamous,
and others to join together under the banner of the National
Redemption Front.

-------------- --------------
AMIS NEEDS CLARITY AND GUIDANCE BEFORE DPA UNRAVELS
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Ibok,s visit to Darfur, which included a stay at the
AMIS Forward Command Headquarters in El Fasher, left him
highly discouraged. His South African security escorts had
privately complained to him that they &were sitting ducks,8
a situation illustrated when an AMIS patrol was held-up and
disarmed outside an IDP camp that same weekend. After
meetings with AMIS Force Commander Ikihiri and his staff,
Ibok felt that the AU mission was in &serious trouble,8
lacking both &situational clarity and assertive ability.8
Much of Darfur was becoming a &combat no-go zone8 which
prevented the underpowered AU from fulfilling its DPA
verification mandate. He concluded that unless AWOL AU

KHARTOUM 00001772 002 OF 002


Special Representative and AMIS Head of Mission Ambassador
Kingibe quickly returned to Sudan to gave AMIS immediate
policy direction and authorize &dramatic8 measures, &this
was all going to unravel.8 (NOTE: Kingibe,s deputy and
senior AMIS civilian in Darfur, Ambassador Hassan Gibril, due
back in Darfur July 15, was also still absent as of Ibok,s
return from Darfur on July 22. END NOTE.)

-------------- -
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONFRONT CHAD
-------------- -


6. (C) According to Ambassador Ibok, the number one problem
facing the DPA was confronting the issue of Chadian forces in
Darfur. He said there was no question that Chadian
interference was undermining the DPA. He accused Chadian
forces of hostage taking, participating in the attacks on
SLM/A-Minawi, and supplying the G-19 with the brand new
weapons he saw during his meeting. However, Ibok complained
that no one, including the AU, was willing to raise this
issue publicly. Ibok hoped to meet with the French
Ambassador in Khartoum to request French assistance on the
Chadian side of the border to confirm his allegations.

-------------- --------------
IBOK TRAVELING TO NY: HOPES TO MEET UN, CALL A/S FRAZER
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Ibok departed for New York on July 23 to attend a July
24-25 Institute for Social Science Research conference on DPA
implementation. While in New York, Ibok hopes to meet with
Deputy UNSYG Hedi Annabi and UNDPKO U/S Jean-Marie Guehenno
to discuss SRSG Pronk,s reported assurances to the G-19 and
others that the DPA will be reopened. Ibok is concerned that
the continuing failure of the UN and the AU to collectively
stay on message on the DPA will only ensure their collective
failure. Ibok also offered to brief A/S Frazer by phone on
these issues. (NOTE: Ibok,s contact information forwarded
separately to AF/SPG. END NOTE.)


8. (C) COMMENT: Ambassador Sam Ibok,s commentary reflects
his frustration with his own organization,s shortcomings.
Ibok,s office is essentially two people with one desk and no
computer. His boss and AU mission head Ambassador Kingibe
has been absent from Sudan for over a month, and Ibok,s
other assigned staff are rarely in country. Ibok depends
heavily on outside help, including ours, for meetings,
travel, and resources. Nevertheless, Ibok has better
understanding of the situation in Darfur than most. His
views are in line with our own impressions and other
reporting we receive.
STEINFELD