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.

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Division of Darfur File
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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.

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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.

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Status of Non-signatories
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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.

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Chadian Dispute and Arabization
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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

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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.
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