DARFUR: EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH GEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002442 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND NEA/ELA NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO PINR SU EG UN SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH GEAR REF: KHARTOUM 02277 Classified By: DCM Roberto Powers, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Egyptian engagement with the Sudanese government on the Darfur crisis has moved into high gear. The GoE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a 90-day Action Plan for Darfur to its embassies, which resembles USG proposals for advancing peace in the region, and the Egyptian ambassador in Khartoum will discuss the plan with Vice President Ali Osman Taha within the week. In addition, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa announced at the start of a two-day visit to Khartoum that he will try "to find a way out" of the crisis. End summary. -------------- EGYPTIAN ACTION PLAN -------------- ¶2. (C) In an October 3 meeting with Poloff, Egyptian DCM Osama Shaltout (please protect) described a four-point Action Plan for a resolution to the Darfur crisis issued by the MFA to its embassies in the last week. The plan is to be implemented in the next 90 days and consists of the following: -- Cessation of hostilities between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebel groups. This includes lowering the public rhetoric from the National Congress Party (NCP),the rebels, and the international community. -- Engagement with the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) non-signatories to encourage their accession to the DPA, with the potential for a supplemental document addressing outstanding issues. -- Sudanese government cooperation and support for the immediate launch of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue, in coordination with the UN. -- Facilitation of economic development projects in Darfur. Shaltout said that the Egyptian ambassador will raise these points with Vice President Taha within the week. This would be done in the context of previous Sudanese requests for greater international assistance in bringing non-signatories to the DPA. ¶3. (C) The Egyptian Embassy is also awaiting more specific instructions from Cairo about how to proceed with implementation of the Action Plan. The Egyptian security and intelligence services hold the Sudan portfolio within the GoE and are the traditional interlocutors with the Darfur rebels. Shaltout said that he receives the intelligence reports on interactions with rebel leaders and expressed interest in coordinating with the USG to engage the non-signatories. He cautioned, however, that any Egyptian efforts to achieve peace in Darfur could not be seen as resulting from U.S. pressure. ¶4. (C) Though GoE concern about mounting political instability on its southern border is known (reftel), Shaltout said that Egypt wanted to resolve the crisis to avoid paying its part of the Arab League financial pledge to AMIS. He said that as the conflict continues, non-payment becomes politically difficult in the face of Gulf countries' contributions, and Egypt feared losing face within the Arab League. Shaltout also emphasized the strong relationship between the GoE and USG and indicated that Egypt did not want to strain this relationship over Sudan. -------------- AMR MOUSSA IN KHARTOUM -------------- ¶5. (C) Amr Moussa arrived in Khartoum on October 2 and will depart October 4. According to the independent daily "Al Sahafa," Moussa announced after his arrival at Khartoum International Airport that he had come "to find a way out" of the Darfur crisis. The Egyptian Embassy coordinated his visit. Shaltout was not specific about the message that Moussa planned to deliver but said that he would have "candid" discussions with high ranking Sudanese officials, including President Bashir, about how to avoid a collision with the international community. Shaltout is scheduled to meet with Moussa on the morning of October 4. Any information provided by Shaltout on the visit will be reported septel. HUME