SUDAN: HAC INTERROGATES USAID PARTNER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002877

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2026
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI SU KHDP
SUBJECT: SUDAN: HAC INTERROGATES USAID PARTNER


Classified By: DCM R. Powers, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) The Government of National Unity (GNU) Humanitarian
Aid Commission (HAC) is in the process of collecting
information on all humanitarian organizations working in
Sudan. The effort appears to be part of an annual exercise
aimed at identifying humanitarian staff and assets. The
process includes a visit from representatives of HAC, the
National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS),and, in
some cases, Military Intelligence Services.


2. (C) On December 13, the HAC called in three staff members
from USAID partner CARE International for interrogation.
Those questioned included one U.S. citizen, one Dutch
citizen, and one Indian citizen. The request stemmed from a
December 12 article in Al Hayat newspaper
(www.alhayatsdn.com) written by Isaq Ahmed Fadlalla, titled
"The Organization of the Hunger Industry, What Is Going On
Under the Table." CARE provided a translation of the article
to USAID. The article alleged that CARE engages in
humanitarian sabotage, intelligence-gathering activities, and
coordination with armed opposition groups. The article
referenced information from internal CARE e-mails with
analysis of the security situation in and around El Fasher,
North Darfur. (Comment: The HAC appears to have a way to
obtain the internal documents of humanitarian organizations.
In a separate incident, the HAC obtained internal documents
from USAID partner International Rescue Committee (IRC) in
August, and leaked them to the media. The IRC internal
document was misrepresented to the media in an attempt to
intimidate IRC. End comment.)


3. (C) HAC Director of NGO Coordination Mutasim Abu Gasim
Abbas conducted the interrogation. (Note: Many in the
humanitarian community believe he is a NISS representative
placed in the HAC. End note.) Questions for the American
citizen, CARE's Emergency Program Coordinator, focused on her
sources of information regarding military movements around El
Fasher, the sharing of information with CARE's headquarters
in Atlanta, and relations with leaders of armed groups. The
Amcit informed HAC that all information was obtained from
open sources, including the U.N. Department of Safety and
Security. CARE's Country Director, referred to in the
article as "Mr. P.," followed up by sending a letter to HAC
explaining the U.S. citizen's role in CARE's Sudan operations.


4. (C) Comment: This appears to be part of larger GNU
strategy to intimidate international NGOs and discourage the
presence of international staff in Sudan, particularly in
Darfur. End comment.
HUME