DARFUR: REBEL SURFACE-AIR MISSILE CAPACITY

S E C R E T KHARTOUM 001974 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, PM, AND S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016 TAGS: MCAP MOPS PREL PINS ASEC FR CH SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: REBEL SURFACE-AIR MISSILE CAPACITY Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request ) see para 5. ¶2. (S) Summary: The sophistication of military operations in Darfur appears to have been raised another notch this summer with the potential introduction of surface to air missiles. Shortly after returning from an investigation of recent fighting between National Redemption Front (NRF) and SLM/A-Minawi rebels in Sayeh, North Darfur, UNDSS Willie Harrison (protect) provided an overview of his investigation of the NRF claims of shooting down an Antonov to USG Senior Security Advisor Tod Wilson (reftel). UNDSS confirmed there was credible evidence that the NRF hit a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Antonov over Sayeh with a Surface to Air - 7 (SA-7) missile. End Summary. ¶3. (S) Willie Harrison showed photographic evidence to the USG Security Advisor in Darfur demonstrating that the front piece of an engine casing and propeller from an Antonov aircraft had been secured on the ground by NRF forces in the vicinity of Sayeh. He also obtained a piece of the engine shaft, which was completely and evenly sheared in two. Harrison interviewed the SA-7 gunner, who claimed to have fired the missile and hit the plane. He was shown a container in the back of a Toyota pickup, which purportedly held the SA-7 system and elements of what appeared to be a missile launcher. The entire system was not completely visible to UNDSS due to a tarp covering most of the pickup truck bed. ¶4. (S) Separately, SLM leader Minni Minawi confirmed to the USG Security Advisor that the NRF had been provided SA-7s from Chad and claimed they had a variant of the SA-9 (presumably mounted on a wheeled vehicle). The missiles had been purchased by Chad from Eritrea and flown to Abeche in late June/July. Minni also claimed to have captured two SA-7 from the NRF in recent fighting in North Darfur. (Note: Embassy Khartoum will follow up with Department to determine the feasibility of obtaining these missiles from Minawi's fighters. His claim of the presence of SA-9s is less believable, since neither Chad nor Eritrea has SA-9s listed in their inventories. We presume if the claim is accurate, that Eritrea may have captured the system from Ethiopia. End Note.) ¶5. (S) Action requested: Embassy understands that France has a significant military presence at the Abeche airfield and may be able to assist in reducing the apparent flow of sophisticated weapon systems through Chad to the NRF. Embassy requests that the Department coordinate with France to use its offices and presence at Abeche to staunch the flow of reported support to anti-DPA elements in Sudan. HUME