BASHIR SHORES-UP KEY CONSTITUENCIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002403

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO KPAO UN SU
SUBJECT: BASHIR SHORES-UP KEY CONSTITUENCIES

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


1. (C) President Bashir held a two-hour press conference on
September 24 after his return from the UN General Assembly
(UNGA). Bashir has staked his legitimacy on opposition to UN
forces, and he used the press conference to shore-up three
key constituencies. For a Sudanese public concerned about
increasing political instability, Bashir portrayed the
government's position as both unanimous and as necessary to
protect Sudan's sovereignty. For his internal NCP rivals, he
demonstrated his sustained resolve to oppose international
intervention. And for those in the Arab and Muslim world who
have pressured him to compromise, Bashir articulated a
measured way forward to support the Darfur Peace Agreement
(DPA) and to ensure security in the region.


2. (U) The press conference was not broadcast on either radio
or television, and official transcripts were not released.
According to an unofficial Embassy translation of a report in
the pro-government daily "Akhbar Al Yom" on September 25,
Bashir made the following points:

-- The Sudanese government signed the DPA because it wanted
to achieve peace and to prevent attempts to internationalize
the Darfur problem.

-- The non-signatories were given adequate time to join the
DPA. After a deadline, however, they were supposed to be
subject to sanctions. The fact that the discussion turned to
UN troops rather than to sanctions indicates that the
international community has another agenda: to colonize Sudan.

-- The rejection of UN forces was approved unanimously by the
Council of Ministers.

-- UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1706 gives UN
troops the same authority and latitude as coalition forces in
Iraq.

-- UNSCR 1706 states that there are no viable institutions in
Sudan and calls for the creation of a new judiciary, the
reformation of the police force, international supervision of
the borders, and monitoring of human rights. These changes
will put Sudan under complete guardianship.

-- The Sudanese government cannot accept UNSCR 1706 because
it would nullify the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by
re-deploying UN troops from Southern Sudan to Darfur.

-- The opposition political parties in Sudan should adopt a
strong position against international intervention in Darfur
in the interest of protecting the homeland.

-- Eighty percent of Darfur is already stable and secure.

-- The Sudanese government supports African Union (AU) forces
in Darfur and calls on the international community to provide
financial and logistical support.

-- The Sudanese government will proceed with the
implementation of the DPA by issuing presidential decrees to
establish the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority and to
form a force of 20,000 military and police officers to
protect internally displaced persons.

-- The international community first spread misinformation
about the AU's resource capacity. After the Arab League
pledged financial assistance, the international community
then began to criticize the AU's military capacity.

-- The international community should condemn the atrocities
committed by the National Redemption Front (NRF) in Darfur.

-- The NRF does not want peace. They want to destroy the DPA.

-- The international community holds a double-standard: When
the Sudanese government tries to contain NRF atrocities, it
is condemned for cease-fire violations.

-- The Eritrean government should expel NRF leaders from its
territory.

-- The demonstrations in the U.S. on the Darfur crisis were
organized by the Jewish and Zionist lobbies, indicating that
the Darfur situation has been exploited in preparation for
the upcoming U.S. elections.

-- To reciprocate for the recent treatment of President
Bashir's delegation in New York, all Americans in Sudan will
be restricted to an area within 25 kilometers of the

KHARTOUM 00002403 002 OF 002


Republican Palace in Khartoum. This restriction will not be
altered unless relations improve between Sudan and the U.S.
HUME