DARFUR PARTNER'S MEETING: LITTLE GOOD NEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002623

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UN CD ER
SUBJECT: DARFUR PARTNER'S MEETING: LITTLE GOOD NEWS

REF: KHARTOUM 02616

Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: The Darfur Partners exchanged notes and
ideas on addressing the issues of Darfur with few solid
recommendations during a November 2 meeting hosted by the UK
Charge. The UN representative assured the group of a
seamless leadership transition with the departure of UN
Secretary General's Special Representative (UNSGSR) Pronk.

SIPDIS
UK and Dutch representatives professed an increase in
Government flexibility on UN support to AMIS. Partners are
solidly behind the Gang of Five efforts to engage and move
non-signatories towards joining the DPA. Partners also agree
in principle to take on a non-paper concerning the dynamics
of the Darfur situation, which all agreed required an
additional regional approach.


2. (SBU) The agenda included a review of the current Darfur
security situation, the impact of UNSRSG Pronk,s departure,
the status of bilateral UNSCR 1706 efforts, updates on
Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation progress and
non-signatory engagement from the Gang of Five, and
discussions on countering spoilers. End Summary.

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Unpredictable Security Environment
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3. (SBU) The UK Defense Attache provided a brief overview of
his four security themes in Darfur. Fighting in the north
continues to be episodic and localized, with sporadic but
ineffective SAF bombing. The areas of Muhajiria and Geraida
are still tense, with occasional fighting between SLA-Minawi
and JEM forces. JEM elements of the Free Will declarants
reportedly have initiated the fighting after coming to an
agreement with the Government. Minawi indicated that he
would move his forces if AMIS would increase its presence and
protect the local population.


4. (SBU) Growing disquiet of Arab militias has created a
backlash against the Government, but Arab militias still
respond to Government direction as indicated by the militia
attack on eight villages on October 29 and 30 in the vicinity
of Jebel Moon. Partners encouraged the international
community to condemn these attacks and press the Government
for the disarmament, demobilization, and disbandment of the
attackers in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
security provisions. Finally, support for opposing rebel
forces between Chad and Sudan continues to be a significant
element of destabilization on both sides of the border.

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Seamless UN Transition with Pronk's Departure
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5. (C) The UN political officer indicated that UNMIS did not
expect any transition issues with the departure of UNSGSR
Pronk. The Government had provided permission for him to
return to pack his personal effects. Taye Brook-Zerihoun, as
acting Special Representative, has full authority for UNMIS
decision-making. Government obstruction and harassment
continued at the same pace. The UK Charge noted the impact
of the simultaneous absence of special representatives by
both the UN and the AU.


6. (C) UN support to AMIS is ongoing, with all pledged UN
assets already in Sudan shifted to El Fasher, including nine
civ-pol and nine military officers. The UN-AU terms of
reference (TOR) gained approval, the memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between the UN and the Government for the
UN light support package is in the final stages of approval,
and the UN has acquired appropriate land in El Fasher for its
facilities. The Government is drafting a tripartite MOU for
the light support package, which the UN will continue to
reject in principle; the UN maintains its understanding that
the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) includes the UN in all of Sudan.


7. (C) All partners acknowledged that a &quiet8 diplomatic
effort for UNSCR 1706 continued. The UK indicated that
during Hillary Benn's recent visit, Presidential Advisor and
GNU lead DPA negotiator Maghzoub al-Khalifa appeared smugly
satisfied with the Government's present success, but
acknowledged that the UN had an important role in DPA
implementation. He welcomed an open-ended, up to two-year,
UN support of AMIS, implicitly recognizing that AMIS cannot
do the mission by itself. He indicated that the Government
preferred African troops, but was willing to accept

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non-African Islamic troop contributions. Maghzoub agreed
that UN support was needed in the headquarters, with respect
to mobility and logistics, as well as in political
dimensions. His redlines were that UN support could not
culminate in a transition to a UN PKO and that Sudan would
not accept a UN command and control role. The Dutch
confirmed that this line was also taken by MFA Lam Akol
during the Dutch foreign minister's recent visit. The EU
representative stated that after the China-African summit Lam
Akol would stop in South Korea to talk to the new UNSG
designee; Pol/Econ Chief noted he would continue onto Japan
to discuss peacekeeping issues.

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Partners Support Nascent DDDC and Engagement Efforts
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8. (C) The EU representative also provided a readout of the
October 18 AU-chaired preparatory meeting on the
Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC) process. He
indicated that AU PSC Commissioner Djinnit and the DDDC
Preparatory Committee Chair Abdul Mohamad would arrive
November 4 or 5. The attendees agreed that the DDDC
Preparatory Committee would include three seats each for the
present signatories (Government and SLM-M); the international
partners (League of Arab States, UN, and EU) and the
signatories of the Addis Ababa Declaration of Commitment
(SLM-Free Will and JEM Peace Wing) one each; tribal leaders
and civil society representatives six each; and the remaining
two seats for the AU Chairperson and Deputy. The selection
of the tribal leaders and civil society representatives will
be a difficult task presently assigned to the AU, UN, EU, and
LAS representatives in consultation with the DPA signatories.
However, the Government has not approved these decisions
formally.


9. (C) The Embassy,s Senior Security Advisor briefed the
group on the status of international partners, efforts to
support a non-signatory commanders, conference (reftel). The
UK, US, and German representatives voiced concern over the
proposed Asmara conference and surmised that the Sudan
Government's intent was more likely to confuse and obstruct
other efforts to instigate a conference. The UK Charge
suggested that those partners who concurred may have better
leverage to counter the Asmara conference through the AU,
which was not presently engaged in the Asmara effort, than
with the Governments of Sudan and Eritrea.

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Development of Darfur Dynamics Non-Paper
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10. (C) Partners discussed how to tackle the issue of Chad
and how to deal with the eventual issue of dealing with a
last non-signatory holdout. The group agreed the regional
aspects of Darfur needed a good &brainstorming8 session.
The UK Charge suggested that the group draft a non-paper on
the dynamics of Darfur and how to broaden support for the
DPA. The partners agreed in principle with the idea, but
deferred commitment pending consultations with capitals.
RPOWERS