REBECCA GARANG CONCERNED ABOUT SANCTIONS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002463 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR A/S FRAZER, NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2026 TAGS: PGOV PINR EAID SU SUBJECT: REBECCA GARANG CONCERNED ABOUT SANCTIONS AND THREATS AGAINST CPA Classified By: CDA R. Powers, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Rebecca Garang De Mabior opposes USG sanctions and urges that no new ones be imposed as a result of Darfur. She believes they are hurting the South and Three Areas more than the North. Garang is concerned that Khartoum is not committed to Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) implementation and is covertly dispatching security personnel to the South. She has counseled Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) President Kiir to deal with disloyal Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) members and believes he is heeding her advice. Garang is pleased with USAID's commitment to begin road and bridge projects. End Summary. -------------- Sanctions Concerns -------------- ¶2. (C) During CG James' courtesy call on Transport and Roads Minister Rebecca Garang De Mabior October 3, the Minister described the adverse consequences of existing USG sanctions on Sudan and their specific impact on her family and the South. Garang said she has been hindered in visiting her family in Nairobi because of the Central Bank's apparent lack of U.S. dollars, which she said was a result of the sanctions. She also described the GoSS loss of significant amounts of money in transferring and converting funds from Kenya. Garang cited a USD 19,000 transaction which resulted in a USD 6,000 loss to her ministry. The GoSS has put in place the investment laws, but U.S. businesses are not coming, she complained. ¶3. (C) In arguing against any additional sanctions she said an oil embargo tied to the situation in Darfur would be a "double punishment for southern Sudan and the Three Areas." The Darfur focus is "coming at the expense of the CPA," she concluded. -------------- -------------- CPA Threatened by Return of Northern Security Elements -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to the CPA, she asked rhetorically what did President Bashir mean by threatening the agreement. She expressed fears that Bashir intended to bring troops back to the south and that Khartoum's "security organs" are already in Juba. She claimed that known security people who had left the South have recently been showing up in and around Juba. (Note: ConGen has heard similar allegations from several GoSS officials and local ConGen employees. End Note). The "NCP has not changed and the Jihadists" are still in control, she said. Garang cited the NCP's close relationship with Iran and Iraq as evidence of the Jihadists' ascendancy. ¶5. (C) The Minister also criticized the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) for failing to act on Abeyi and said the AEC has no leverage over Khartoum. Garang intends to challenge Khartoum's failure to adhere to wealth sharing under the CPA by having the Transport and Roads Ministry exercise its authority to collect revenue for services it provides in the South, but which are currently being paid only to the North. These funds will be deposited in the Bank of Southern Sudan with 50 percent to be used for the South and the balance held for the North, Garang said. She underscored that the SPLM does not want to be seen as a "non-compliant partner," but would not be deprived of its share of resources. ¶6. (C) In response to CG's inquiry on the level of current SPLM support for Dr. John Garang's vision of a "New Sudan," Garang maintained that it still exists among the majority of the Political Bureau and National Executive Council members. (Note: Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Luka Biong Deng, told CG recently in private that there was no consensus in the SPLM on a united Sudan. End Note). -------------- Garang-Kiir Relationship Better -------------- ¶7. (C) Garang launched into a discussion of her relationship with GoSS President Salva Kiir noting that it was much better. After Kiir initially appeared to rebuff her advice when he took over from her late husband, Kiir now accepted her counsel on dealing with disloyal SPLM members. She castigated GoSS Minister of Cabinet Affairs Justin Yaac Arop and Government of National Unity (GNU) Advisor Bona Malwal Madut Ring as enemies of her husband who were also undermining Kiir. She believed Kiir now shared her views of KHARTOUM 00002463 002 OF 002 Yaac and Malwal, although she did not say how Kiir planned to deal with them. -------------- USAID Roads Projects Welcomed -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Ministry of Transport and Roads Under Secretary Daniel Wani praised USAID for the recent signing of the infrastructure management contract in the South with Louis Berger. The Under Secretary expressed concerns about the capacity of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to carry out major infra-structure projects in the South. (Note: UNOPS has been awarded a one-year USD 31 million contract to improve infrastructure in southern Sudan. End Note). Louis Berger officials told CG separately that they do not expect to begin any construction work before 2007 and are pleased that UNOPS will begin quick impact, high visibility construction projects for roads and bridges. Minister Garang echoed Wani's pleasure at the Louis Berger contract signing. HUME