DARFUR: JANJAWEED ATTACKS CONTINUE IN EL FASHER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002808 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF S/E NATSIOS NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS AU UN SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: JANJAWEED ATTACKS CONTINUE IN EL FASHER ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Janjaweed attacks in El Fasher continued throughout December 5 and 6. Between 1900 and 2300 hours, sporadic gunfire was heard around El Fasher. This resulted in two fatalities--a 15-year-old student and a police officer--and two injuries, both students. All victims were Zaghawa living in the center of the city. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On the morning of December 6, Janjaweed forces were observed departing the town, looting and destroying shops as they went. The forces then deployed to the bridge on the main road between El Fasher town center and the airport. An EU military observer reported 300-400 Janjaweed vehicles at the bridge, 100 of which were dug into reinforced positions. The forces were heavily armed with 12.7 machine guns and 60 and 82 mm mortars. By 1500 hours, the Janjaweed had pulled back from the bridge and relocated southwest of the airport. ¶3. (SBU) The death of the 15-year-old student sparked protests in the center of El Fasher on December 6. Due to the large number of armed men in the town center, the situation quickly deteriorated into rioting, and at approximately 1000 hours, shooting broke out and continued for 30-45 minutes. Two more students were critically injured. Shopkeepers and students then stoned several African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) vehicles, apparently in retaliation for its inaction. The two cafes outside of ZamZam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp were looted and burned by a mob also protesting AMIS' lack of action. ¶4. (SBU) During the December 6 Cease-fire Commission (CFC) meeting, participants discussed the incidents of recent days. The AMIS Deputy Force Commander Frank Kamanzi formed a sub committee to conduct an investigation. The Government representative to the CFC did not arrive, and when the subcommittee attempted to visit ZamZam, protesters turned them back. At about 1445 hours, sporadic small arms fire and grenade explosions were heard a half kilometer outside the town center. ¶5. (SBU) Several sources reported over 1,000 mixed Janjaweed and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) moving south towards El Fasher from the Kutum area on the afternoon of December 6. Approximately 60 Janjaweed/SAF trucks were seen reinforcing Kutum town December 1, and it appears these are the same vehicles. HUME