DynCorp Article Resonates, Perhaps Badly

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001938 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR EAID PGOV KPKO US SU SUBJECT: DynCorp Article Resonates, Perhaps Badly ¶1. (U) This is an action request - see para 5. ¶2. (SBU) On August 12, the online news service Sudan Tribune carried an article titled, "US Firm to Turn South Sudan Rebels into Soldiers." The article states that Reuters interviewed DynCorp Vice President for International Business Development Al Rigney in Juba on August 12 on the margins of a trade fair in which DynCorp was an event sponsor. The article stated DynCorp would begin next year to reshape thousands of former southern Sudanese guerilla fighters into a professional army; the training would be ongoing for the next several years and put to work a rebel militia force with too much idle time. ¶3. (SBU) On August 13, the Sudan Tribune carried a follow-on piece, "Sudan SPLM Denies Contract with US Firm to Reshape SPLA." The article states that the SPLM has denied these assertions, and instead quotes SPLA Major General Bior Ajang as stating the SPLA is reshaping its structures into a modern force under the control of the Government of Southern Sudan, but without any foreign assistance. He instead referred to UN proposals to modernize the joint forces, which would constitute the core of the national army if the South opts for unity with the North. ¶4. (SBU) The content of the article, however, does not correspond with either the account of DynCorp activities provided to First Vice President Salva Kiir during his recent visit to Washington or to post's understanding of the DynCorp contract. The article's misleading coverage of the apparent DynCorp statement begs clarification; its timing and necessity are puzzling at a time when the USG is working urgently to gain Sudanese acceptance of a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur. ¶5. (SBU) Action requested: AF/SPG is requested to ensure that DynCorp make no further public statements on its work in Sudan. HUME