SUDAN: UPDATE ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE IN SOUTHERN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002448 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR A/S FRAZER, NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU SUBJECT: SUDAN: UPDATE ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN REF: A. REF A: KHARTOUM 2426 ¶B. REF B: SECSTATE 164089 ¶1. (SBU) Visiting Sudan Programs Group (SPG) Director Lauren Landis briefed a range of Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) officials on current and prospective U.S. security sector assistance during her September 28-30 visit to Juba. Landis' discussions with GoSS President Salva Kiir are reported ref. ¶A. Kiir and others expressed concern over the perceived slow pace of implementation of some agreed projects. Landis underscored USG commitment to these projects and endeavored to take several steps to improve coordination among the GoSS, the USG, and contractors. ¶2. (SBU) Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) Chief of Staff General Oyai Deng told Landis September 30 that he understood that construction of an SPLA headquarters facility at Rumshel is not feasible at this time. He urged rapid construction of an interim headquarters at Juba. Landis informed Deng that after various difficulties, the USG is now authorized to expend money to build the Juba site. Officials from the contractor DynCorp, also present at the meeting, said once a final "notice to proceed" is received, they will be ready to begin work on the Juba headquarters and that work could be completed within 105 days or, with additional pressure, "by Christmas." Landis urged all concerned to work together to agree to a final site plan and said she planned to return to Juba before the end of the year to help inaugurate the headquarters. Reps from ConGen Juba, SPLA and DynCorp also agreed to meet once per week until further notice to review progress on the headquarters construction and other projects. ¶3. (SBU) Landis delivered ref. B demarche concerning the forthcoming visit of a seven-person delegation led by Michael Bittrick, AF Deputy Director for Regional Security Affairs. Plans for the visit were subsequently put on hold due to travel restrictions imposed by the Sudanese Government. All GoSS officials with whom we spoke welcomed the visit. Post hopes it can be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity. ¶4. (SBU) Dyncorp provided an update on vehicles and communications assistance under the current scope of work. Four of the promised trucks are in Juba, DynCorp said, 17 more are "stuck in Customs at Yei," and the remaining 60 are due to reach Juba by October 8. DynCorp and SPLA officials agreed that both sides need to finalize training arrangements for vehicle drivers. ¶5. (U) SPG Director Landis was not able to review this message before departure. HUME