Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1974
2006-08-19 15:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
DARFUR: REBEL SURFACE-AIR MISSILE CAPACITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKH #1974 2311559 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 191559Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4217 INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JCH/HSE// PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY 0061 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY 0111 RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY 0003 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY 0191 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
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)
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
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