SUDAN: MFA ADVISES OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002408 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SP REP NATSIOS AND AF A/S FRAZER NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV ODIP CASC OTRA OVIP US SU SUBJECT: SUDAN: MFA ADVISES OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND USG OFFICIALS Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) On October 1, Embassy Khartoum received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated September 27 regarding limitations on travel by U.S. nationals. ¶2. (SBU) The text of the dip note (received in English) is as follows: (Begin text) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan present their compliments to the Embassy of the United States of American in Khartoum and has the honour to inform that the movement of all U.S. citizens and officials visiting the Sudan will be limited to a 25-mile radius form the Republican Palace in Khartoum, notwithstanding that entry visas will be endorsed to reflect the same. The above-mentioned restriction will not be applicable to the American diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the United States of America in Khartoum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of their highest considerations. (End text) ¶3. (C) Due to this circumstance, Embassy Khartoum will refrain from granting country clearance for proposed visits involving travel outside of Khartoum unless the situation improves or becomes sufficiently clear to permit exceptions. On October 1, the Embassy issued a warden message to Americans in country alerting them to these new guidelines; the Embassy is also submitting language to the Department for a revised Travel Warning for Sudan. ¶4. (C) Comment: During the past week, the MFA has ceased to process travel permits, and the Humanitarian Aid Commission has stricken the names of USG travelers from manifests of WFP flights to Darfur. These steps limit severely the extent to which USAID Darfur Field Office TDY staff can deploy, as well as the ability of S/CRS Active Response Corps TDYers to support the Darfur Peace Agreement, report on security and humanitarian access conditions, and liaise with UN and NGO representatives. End comment. HUME