CONTINUING EFFORTS ON COMMANDERS' CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002732

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL AU SU
SUBJECT: CONTINUING EFFORTS ON COMMANDERS' CONFERENCE

REF: A. KHARTOUM 02671


B. KHARTOUM 02731

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


1. (C) Commanders representing the SLA-Unity, G-19, SLA-Abdel
Wahid Al Nur, and SLA-Ahmed Abdul Shafi continue to engage in
efforts to hold a conference of Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
non-signatory commanders in North Darfur with the
facilitation of the African Union (AU). A working group of
international partners, in coordination with the AU, have
been trying to support the commanders' initiative, and the
Embassy's Senior Security Advisor is in El Fasher as part of
this process (Ref A). Despite the recent military campaign
in North Darfur, the commanders continue to recognize the
importance of dialogue among the non-signatories and to
express a willingness to meet in the near future.


2. (C) In a November 22 meeting with CDA Hume, AU Deputy Head
of Darfur Peace Agreement Implementation Boubou Niang said
that the African Union Mission to Sudan (AMIS) would
facilitate transportation for commanders wishing to attend a
conference, provided that the G-19 rescind a website posting
indicating that they would attack AMIS helicopters in
territory under their control. Representatives of the G-19
agreed on November 22 to remove the posting as a impediment
to the conference. The international partners continue to
encourage the AU to press the Sudanese government to
guarantee security for a commanders' conference. The AU
mediator for the Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Salim Ahmed
Salim, will arrive in Khartoum on November 26, and the
international partners will raise this issue with him at the
chief of mission level. Ongoing violence in North Darfur
holds the possibility of delaying the conference (Ref B).


3. (C) According to Niang, the AU and the United Nations will
convene a meeting of non-signatory political leaders and
international stakeholders within the next two weeks as part
of the November 16 Addis Ababa agreement. A commanders'
conference is complimentary to this effort and an important
step in creating the unity among the rebel movements that is
necessary for the success of a broader political process.
According to a UN political advisor, the UN remains
supportive of the commanders' conference. She anticipated
that an agreement between the AU and the UN on implementation
of the Addis Ababa agreement would be signed in the near
future, at which time 30 UN advisors in Khartoum would be
permitted to travel to Darfur to work with the AMIS command.
HUME