CONFUSED MESSAGE ON ADDIS ACCORD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002711 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS, AF/SPG, AND AF/PD NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV AU KPKO SU UN SUBJECT: CONFUSED MESSAGE ON ADDIS ACCORD Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Public comments by Sudanese officials on the Statement of Principles signed in Addis Ababa on November 16 have been convoluted. With regard to the role of United Nations forces, the local Arabic press has interchanged the Arabic words for "joint" and "mixed" in the translation of "hybrid." This tendency to use different terminology limits the international community's understanding of the Sudanese government's intentions. A selection of press comments follows: -- "Foreign Minister Dr. Lam Akol Saturday denied Sudan has agreed to mixed forces between the African Union and the United Nations in Darfur, saying what was agreed upon was a mixed operation and the role of the United Nations therein would be to provide support units and technical assistance to the African Mission in the form of technical experts, administrative capabilities as well as transportation and transports equipment as well as medical services." (Government's official Sudan News Agency, November 18) -- "We did not agree on a mixed force as the Secretary-General Kofi Annan said. What we have agreed upon SIPDIS was that the force should remain African and it be assisted by the United Nations. There is no way the main fighting force would be mixed." (FM Lam Akol, Press Conference, November 18) -- "Sudanese Presidential Advisor Majzoub Al-Khalifa denied that Khartoum approved deployment of a joint African-international force in Darfur." (MENA, November 18) -- "We will not accept a UN full command over the AU forces in Darfur." (National Congress Party Vice President for Information Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, November 18) -- "The National Congress has renewed its absolute rejection of any resolution on deployment of joint or mixed international forces in Darfur." (Sudan News Agency, November 19) -- "The statements given by Sudanese officials in Khartoum, the UN officials and the AU officials are contradictory as to the interpretation of the Addis Ababa agreement concerning deployment of joint forces in Darfur. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol confirmed that the agreement does not include deployment of UN forces on the ground in Darfur. He strongly rebutted the idea that Sudan had accepted deployment of hybrid forces from the UN and the AU." (Al Sahafa, independent Arabic daily, November 19) -- "The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol announced that Sudan agreed with the United Nations on joint operations not joint forces. He described Annan's statement concerning Sudanese acceptance to joint forces as hasty and as coming prior to detailed discussions on the issue based on the government's firm stance in support of only AU forces." (Al Rai Al Aam, pro-National Congress Party daily, November 19) -- "The NCP confirmed its absolute rejection to the deployment of either joint or hybrid forces in Darfur but agreed to a role for the UN in logistic, technical and financial support in three phases." (Al Ayam, independent Arabic daily, November 19) -- "The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol has ruled out the possibility of joint UN/AU forces in Darfur, contrary to what has been announced by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Sudan agrees to a joint AU/UN operation, said the minister, adding that the UN role will be confined to provision of technical and administrative personnel, in addition to logistical back-up and medical services. Concerning the ceasefire monitoring, the Minister said Sudan has been of the opinion that the proposed deployment of 17,000 troops was premature since the number of troops should be specified in accordance with their tasks, mandate and conditions on the ground." (Sudan Vision, pro-NCP English daily, November 19) -- "The Council of Ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive outcome the UN, AU, and Government of Sudan achieved at Addis Ababa last week, particularly the transcendence of resolution 1706. In his report to the Cabinet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that no party to the said meeting talked about internationalization of the issue, or the transition of the AU mandate to UN forces." (Sudan Vision, KHARTOUM 00002711 002 OF 002 pro-NCP English daily, November 20) ¶2. (C) Comment: The confused messages from Sudanese leaders following the Addis Ababa accord suggests that the government's opposition to a broader UN role in Darfur remains. There does not seem to be consensus within the government on the level of UN support for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) nor on the number of troops that will be allowed to augment the current force. End comment. HUME