DPA STAKEHOLDER,S MEETING: PROGRESS NON-EXISTENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002142

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR A/S FRAZER, NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: DPA STAKEHOLDER,S MEETING: PROGRESS NON-EXISTENT
AS VIOLATIONS MOUNT

REF: A. A.) KHARTOUM 2116


B. B.) KHARTOUM 2113

Classified By: CDA CAMERON HUME: REASON: SECTION 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: During a September 5 Darfur Peace Agreement
stakeholder's meeting, Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM)
leader and Senior Assistant to the President Minni Minawi
decried alleged breaches of the DPA in recent weeks, blaming
both the National Redemption Front (NRF) and the Government.
Minawi accused the Government of several violations,
including the announcement dismissing the African Union
Mission in Sudan (AMIS) by September 30; the Sudanese Armed
Forces (SAF) military offensive in Darfur; and failure to
disarm the janjaweed. If there is no verifiable disarmament
of the janjaweed, Minni said, there would be no further
implementation of the DPA. Minawi stressed that AMIS must
remain in Darfur to safeguard the DPA. Despite delays,
Minawi is pressing forward with formation of the Transitional
Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA). Minawi predicted
non-signatories in both Darfur and Asmara would join the DPA
within weeks. End summary.

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DPA VIOLATIONS
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2. (C) Minawi convoked foreign embassy representatives
September 5 to discuss the status of the DPA. Minawi
condemned several alleged violations of the DPA by both the
Government and NRF (Ref a). The Government's announcement
dismissing AMIS from Darfur, the ongoing SAF military
offensive, and the failure to disarm the janjaweed all
constituted violations of the DPA. Without verifiable
disarmament of the janjaweed, the DPA will grind to a halt,
Minawi said. In order to safeguard the agreement, AMIS must
remain in Darfur. The Government's actions at El Fasher
University (Ref b) on September 4 also represented an
"atrocity." The Government organized anti-UN demonstrations,
and, when students refused to participate, the police were
sent. The demonstrations were not an expression of the will
of the people of Darfur. Minawi demanded an immediate Joint
Commission investigation.


3. (C) Minawi also condemned the NRF, in particular for
attacks in SLM-controlled areas. The Government is using the
NRF as an excuse to deploy an additional 10,500 troops to
Darfur, a clear violation of the DPA. The Government, he
charged, is taking advantage of the silence of the
international community. The violations of the DPA will not
stop until the actions of both the Government and NRF are
denounced. Minawi asked several times what the position of
the international community was with respect to violations of
the DPA and alternatives if AMIS departs Darfur. Minawi
confirmed that the tenure of AMIS was not on the agenda of
the Council of Ministers meeting on September 3.

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DPA NON-SIGNATORIES
--------------


4. (C) Minawi, assisted by the UN, has sent a delegation to
North Darfur to convince non-signatories to join the DPA.
Minawi reasoned that if remaining holdouts could be persuaded
to join, the Government would have no justification for using
military force. Minawi hoped for a positive decision within
days. Minawi also referenced First Vice President Kiir's
efforts to convince Ahmed Abdul Shafi and Abdul Wahid to join
the DPA. Likewise, he predicted both would join the DPA
within the next few weeks. Minawi efforts to sway internally
displaced persons (IDPs) in the camps are also beginning to
bear fruit.

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DELAYS IN TDRA
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5. (C) Minawi also lamented the delay in formation of the
TDRA; regardless, he continues to push forward. Minawi has
submitted a proposal for the structure of the TDRA, but it is
now up to the President to decide. He requested a meeting
with President Bashir two weeks ago to discuss the issue, but
has heard no response. In the coming days, Minawi will
formally announce the formation of the various commissions
which make up the TDRA.

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GNU ACTIONS: CONFUSED, INCONSISTENT
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KHARTOUM 00002142 002 OF 002




6. (C) CDA Hume said the Government's actions were at times
difficult to understand. He cited the Government's security
plan for Darfur, which was submitted to the UN Secretary
General. Hume contrasted this approach with the Government
of Sudan's reluctance to engage the UN on clear NRF
violations of the DPA. While most governments drew attention
to such aggression, the Sudanese refused to talk to the UN
and then questioned its silence. Hume reminded those in
attendance that the U.S. condemned the July NRF attack on
Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan state.


7. (C) Hume also cited several different stories in the
September 6 press: one reported the Government's decision to
expel the AU; another said the Government requested the AU
stay; and a third reported the SPLM, a partner in the
Government of National Unity (GNU),favored a transition to a
UN peacekeeping operation. Likewise, the Government seems
conflicted with regard to efforts to bring onboard
non-signatories to the DPA. There is a significant level of
turmoil in the Government, and it is hard to predict how it
would play out. The international community would likely see
continued backpedaling, confusion, and inconsistency. Hume
stated the position of the U.S. Government: Sudan must move
forward with the UN; the U.S. witnessed and supported the DPA
and did not support efforts to replace it; and AMIS had
performed well, but it was time to transition it to a UN
force.


8. (C) Other speakers agreed that verifiable janjaweed
disarmament was a pre-condition for real movement on the DPA;
disapproved of the cancellation of the September 7 Joint
Commission meeting in Addis Ababa; called for mechanisms to
keep non-signatories involved in both the Cease Fire
Commission (CFC) and Joint Commission; decried the exclusion
of international community represenhativJs i. sector-level
CFC meetings; called for quick establishment of the
Preparatory Committee of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and
Consultation; and noted that, while half-complete, further
baseline studies of the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission could
not proceed due to insecurity.

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COMMENT
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9. (C) Minawi's growing frustration over blatant Government
violations of the DPA and lack of progress on janjaweed
disarmament were evident. He is becoming ever more concerned
with the likely departure of AMIS in the coming weeks, the
SAF offensive, and long-term prospects for DPA
implementation. Minawi is also increasingly animated by what
he perceives to be the silence of the international community
on Darfur. End comment.
HUME