SPLM'S YASSIR ARMAN DISCUSSES NCP-SPLM JOINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001975

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV PINR AU UN SU
SUBJECT: SPLM'S YASSIR ARMAN DISCUSSES NCP-SPLM JOINT
MEETING, WAY FORWARD ON DARFUR

REF: KHARTOUM 01308

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


1. (C) Summary: According to SPLM National Assembly Chair
Yassir Arman, the NCP and SPLM have formed a working group to
study the issue of international peacekeeping in Darfur; it
will meet and report to the Joint Political Committee on
August 28. Although the NCP seeks an exit from the current
situation, it continues to portray a unified GNU stance on
the issue -) against UN peacekeeping force -) while
criticizing the SPLM for speaking differently. The SPLM
believes the lingering Darfur conflict detracts focus and
resources from implementation of the CPA and the North-South
situation in general. GoSS President Kiir intends to travel
to Asmara soon to meet with both Ahmed Abdel Shafi and Abdel
Wahid to try to gain their support for the DPA. End summary.

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Yassir: NCP Falsely Implies Unified GNU Stance on UN PKO

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2. (C) SPLM National Assembly Lead and Deputy Secretary
General for the North Yassir Arman told Pol/Econ Chief that
the NCP had raised the matter of a way forward on
international force deployment in Darfur during the August
8-12 joint meeting between the NCP and SPLM. With the
Government and National Assembly taking stances against a
transition to a UN peacekeeping operation, the SPLM was
asked, why did the SPLM support one? The SPLM's commitment
to political institutions was questioned, Yassir said. The
SPLM countered that it regarded the matter as a political
issue, not a legal matter, and recalled that the SPLM had
held a different view from the NCP from the beginning. The
SPLM believes a UN PKO will provide security for civilians.
The Government had worked to portray opposition to a UN PKO
as a broad decision, although the SPLM was on record as
preferring to reach a solution in conjunction with the
international community. The issue is not over, it remains
on the table, and the SPLM recognizes that it is dividing the
Government. The SPLM believes the GNU needs a unified
position for a UN PKO with Chapter VI and some Chapter VII
elements.

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Yassir: Darfur Issue Overshadows CPA, Shifts Focus
-------------- EZ21L05QH=QX nTn~k6(THH56Q[Smt This
overshado Darfur needs a quicker solution that does
not undermine the CPA, and thereby shift focus and resources
away from the North-South equation. The entry of a UN
peacekeeping operation would improve the situation in Darfur.
A small committee was thus needed to discuss options, as the
NCP wants out of the current state of affairs. The Yassir
said he would soon travel to Asmara with GoSS President Salva
Kiir to meet with both Ahmed Abdel Shafi and Abdel Wahid to
try to gain their support for the DPA; Shafi, he maintained,
was considering joining the NRF or negotiating enhancements
to the DPA.

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Sub-Committee to Work on Issue
for 15 Days, Give Report
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4. (C) Yassir said a sub-committee had been formed, that
included as co-chairs Minister of Cabinet Affairs Deng Alor
and Presidential Advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail. The sides are
to work together on the issue of international force
deployment for 15 days, and then report their findings to the
August 28 meeting of the NCP-SPLM Joint Political Committee.
The Joint Political Committee would then follow up with
senior political leadership, Yassir added.
HUME