BASHIR SAYS AU MUST LEAVE DARFUR BY SEPT 30

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002114 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, AF/RSA DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO SOCI AU UN US SU SUBJECT: BASHIR SAYS AU MUST LEAVE DARFUR BY SEPT 30 ¶1. (SBU) At the end of a September 3 meeting of the Council of Ministers, President Bashir unilaterally announced that the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is expected to withdraw its forces in Darfur by September 30 and will not be permitted to remain for a transition to a possible UN peace-keeping operation. Thereafter, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) will assume responsibility for security in Darfur. ¶2. (SBU) The Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) is meeting to consider its response; it is expected to distance itself from the Government's pronouncement. Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) leader and Senior Assistant to the President Minni Minawi has intimated that, if this decision holds, it would threaten the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). In a separate meeting between the (SPLM) Minister of Transport and EmbOff, the Minister said that the Council did not discuss the issue nor make a decision. Rather, the President delivered his briefing, stood up and walked out of the meeting. Similarly, a senior SPLM representative confirmed to CDA Hume the arbitrary decision of the President. ¶3. (SBU) AU Special Representative Kingibe was notified informally September 3 of the Government's decision, while the UN and AU were both convoked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for meetings on September 4. In its meeting with UN representatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Government of Sudan's opposition to UNSCR 1706 and said that any UN effort to implement the resolution would be considered an infringement of Sudanese sovereignty, a violation of both the DPA and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),as well as a breach of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). CDA Hume will see AU Special Representative Kingibe the evening of September 4. ¶4. (U) In comments before the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA), Presidential Advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail said that the Government of Sudan did not move to terminate AMIS prematurely. Rather, as AMIS' mission is expiring September 30 and it had not requested an extension, the Government was obliged to fill the security vacuum which would be left behind by the departure of AMIS forces. Government spokesmen stressed that the decision was not a rejection of African Union troops, but of international forces meant to replace them. They also emphasized that the decision did not constitute a rejection of dialogue with the UN. ¶5. (U) In announcing the decision, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press spokesman reiterated the Government's position that the security situation in Darfur is improving, except for violations committed by the National Redemption Front (NRF). The press spokesman cited UN Security Council Resolution 1706's call for the formation of an independent judiciary, qualified police force, human rights protection mechanisms, and cooperation with the Government of Chad. Imposition of these demands is incompatible with Sudan's rights as a sovereign nation, he stated. The Government rejected the UNSCR's depiction of Sudan as a failing state and the last-minute change in the text inviting Sudanese consent to a UN peace-keeping deployment, vice acknowledging consent was mandatory. Furthermore, the African Union does not have the authority to transfer its mission in Darfur to the UN. He said the Government of Sudan would implement its security plan for Darfur, submitted earlier to the Security Council, which includes sending up to 26,500 government and SLM troops to the region. (Note: Minawi has not consented to the use of his troops in the Government's security plan. End note.) HUME