MINAWI DISCUSSES NCP APPROACH TO DARFUR,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002767 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL SU CD CT SO SUBJECT: MINAWI DISCUSSES NCP APPROACH TO DARFUR, NON-SIGNATORIES, CHAD Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a November 29 meeting, Special Assistant to the President and SLM leader Minni Minawi described the stalled implementation of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) and the division of labor within the National Congress Party (NCP) on Darfur, which has left President Bashir and Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein, a key backer of the Janjaweed, in the lead. He confirmed reports that the Sudanese government was attempting to co-opt individual rebel commanders and that Abdel Wahid al Nur remained a powerful symbol to many Fur. Minawi also said that peace in Darfur would be difficult to achieve without repairing the bilateral relationship between Chad and Sudan, but explained that Bashir was waiting to see if President Deby's government would collapse. This was part of an ongoing effort to Arabize central and east Africa. End summary. -------------- Division of Darfur File -------------- ¶2. (C) According to Minawi, Presidential Advisor Magzhoub al-Khalifa no longer holds responsibility for Darfur. Though President Bashir is the "head of the Darfur file," Minister of Defense Hussein has been tapped to concentrate on the Janjaweed, National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) chief Salah Ghosh is the point person for the DPA non-signatories, and former Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail in charge of mobilizing Arab and Islamic opposition to UN intervention. Minawi reported that the NCP resumed financial support for the Janjaweed after Arab leaders had complained about the cessation of government subsidies. After crossing paths with Defense Minister Hussein and State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun in El Fasher recently, Minawi was told by North Darfur governor Yousef Kibir that Hussein and Haroun had gone to Kabkabiya to visit Janjaweed leader Moussa Hillal. Minawi said that Hillal had since traveled to Birmaza, which is now controlled by the Janjaweed. -------------- NCP Undermines Minawi/TDRA -------------- ¶3. (C) During a November 29 meeting with USAID Mission Director and Poloff, Minawi lamented the lack of progress made in the establishment of the TDRA. Minawi has succeeded in appointing the chairmen of only two commissions: for land and for reconstruction. Though Vice President Ali Osman Taha issued the decrees to create the commissions, Bashir has yet to sign them. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the composition of the other commissions and the appointment of a state minister from the SLM. ¶4. (C) The Sudanese government has also been arming and bribing groups within the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps to foment opposition to Minawi and to the DPA. He said that he was unable to visit camps in Nyala during his recent trip to Darfur, because it would have given the government an opportunity to instigate violence. -------------- Status of Non-signatories -------------- ¶5. (C) Confirming reports that Abdel Wahid maintains a symbolic base of support among the Fur, Minawi said that his focus will now be on gaining Abdel Wahid's accession to the DPA. The Sudanese government is attempting to negotiate separate agreements with individual commanders in order to undermine their strength and Abdel Wahid's support. Minawi said it would be unlikely that the government would attack a conference of non-signatory commanders, preferring a more subtle strategy of subversion. -------------- Chadian Dispute and Arabization -------------- ¶6. (C) Minawi said that the volatile relationship between Chad and Sudan had to be addressed in order to achieve an end to the Darfur crisis. He noted that the Sudanese government held a stronger bargaining position than Chad because, though the Chadian rebels endangered Deby's hold on power, the Sudanese rebels did not threaten Khartoum. Minawi had escorted Bashir to the airport on November 28 and had KHARTOUM 00002767 002 OF 002 encouraged the president to negotiate with the Chadian government. He said that Bashir was unresponsive, an indication that he was waiting to see if Deby's government collapsed. Minawi cited a clear attempt by the Sudanese government and other extremists to install Arab governments in N'djamena and Bangui as part of an initiative to Islamize and Arabize Africa. He said that Sudanese support for the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia exemplified this trend. HUME