KHARTOUM - EAC MEETING ON POSSIBLE ATTACK ON EL

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002802

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, AF/SPG, AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PREL OPDP CASC SU
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM - EAC MEETING ON POSSIBLE ATTACK ON EL
FASHER



1. On December 5, 2006 an EAC meeting was held at Embassy
Khartoum. Present were DCM, POL, MGT, RSO, PAO, CON, USAID,
JLE and RAO. The subject was the threat of imminent attack
on the capital city of North Darfur State, El Fasher by
combined forces of SLA/M and NRF as a follow-up to recent
skirmishes between janjaweed and the rebel forces in the town
of El Fasher. Post Management and RSO, working with the JLE
representative, had already ordered all official Americans
and Embassy employees in El Fasher to seek safe haven in
Nyala, South Darfur, and the EAC received confirmation of
their successful departure from El Fasher during the meeting.


2. The consensus of the EAC was to validate the Post,s
actions in ordering the employees to a safe haven area and to
request the issueance of a new warden message.


3. The EAC also discussed how the possible attack on El
Fasher might affect the upcoming visit of Special Envoy
Natsios to Post, and the possibility of a ripple effect in
the other Darfur state capitals and Khartoum. No additional
action in Khartoum or the other main Darfur cities was called
for at this time. Post will re-evaluate based on what
happens in El Fasher in the next 24 to 48 hours.
HUME