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