DESPERATE ABDULWAHID THREATENS WAR IN KHARTOUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002454 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SU ER SUBJECT: DESPERATE ABDULWAHID THREATENS WAR IN KHARTOUM REF: A. KHARTOUM 02416 ¶B. KHARTOUM 02434 Classified By: DCM R. Powers, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) In a September 28 article in the pan-Arab daily "Asharq Al Awsat," Abdulwahid Al Nur vowed to continue the struggle in Darfur until the Sudanese government grants political rights to the people of the region and recognizes it as a single entity, disarms government-backed militias, allows the return of internally displaced persons, and provides compensation to victims. "We are ready to fight not only in Darfur but to shift the war to the heart of Khartoum," he threatened. ¶2. (U) Abdulwahid also underscored his support for an Eritrean government role in organizing a conference for Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) non-signatories and in finding a solution to the Darfur crisis. He said that he was "astonished" at President Bashir's rejection of a role for Asmara. "We believe that Eritrea could be a neutral mediator," he said. "The Eritrean government supports a political and just resolution to the problem of Darfur, and all the parties have deep trust in Eritrea...We will not accept any initiative that distances our Eritrean brothers from the mediation." ¶3. (C) Comment: As reported reftel, Abdulwahid's recent overtures to the National Redemption Front (NRF) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and his efforts to stymie a constructive conference of non-signatories are a desperate attempt to maintain his political influence despite his loss of public support. Abdulwahid's latest comments are further indication of this trend. End comment. HUME