Unrest in Nyala Directed at NGOs

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002138

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, DS/IP/AF, AND DS/DSS/ITA
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN TEAM
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU
SUBJECT: Unrest in Nyala Directed at NGOs



1. (SBU) On September 5, protests held by secondary school students
mobilized by the government in opposition to a UN peacekeeping
operation in Darfur resulted in several incidents of stoning and
vandalism of international organization and NGO guesthouses,
offices, and vehicles, including OCHA, Tearfund, IRC, MSF, IMC, NRC,
and MDM. No serious destruction or injuries have so far been
reported, although a guard was hit by a stone at an NRC guesthouse
and several NGOs sustained broken windows.


2. (SBU) The attacks, which followed a September 4 mobilization
campaign through vehicle-based speaker systems, conveyed through
markets and neighborhoods, also involved a break-in at the Tearfund
office. Preliminary reports indicate that some parents kept
children home in order to prevent their being drafted into
participating in the protests. Reports indicate that police
responded and chased crowd away from OCHA and ICRC.

HUME