ROUND ABOUT IN EL FASHER: CDA HUME GETS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000316 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/RSA, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL KPKO AU SU SUBJECT: ROUND ABOUT IN EL FASHER: CDA HUME GETS ON-THE-GROUND REALITY CHECK WITH THE TROOPS REF: A. KHARTOUM 00281 ¶B. KHARTOUM 00282 KHARTOUM 00000316 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: CDA Hume traveled to El Fasher, Darfur, on February 4-5 to meet with the new AMIS Force Commander and his staff, and to gain their views on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. The trip also sought to review resources in El Fasher available for hosting high-level delegations (Ref A). All interlocutors cited security as their main concern; issues focused on the need for increased civilian protection and improved humanitarian access. CDA Hume encouraged NGO representatives to brief the new AU Force Commander as to the location of "hot spots where humanitarian access is imperiled." The two-day trip produced many updates on the complex situation in Darfur, while permitting the establishment of bonds with military observers, NGOs, AMIS, and UNMIS. END SUMMARY. Meeting with Maj Gen Ihekare & A/Head of Delegation Gibril -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) CDA Hume met with AMIS Force Commander M/G Ihekare and with A/Head of Delegation Hassan Gibril. He noted the apparent deterioration of stability and command and control among the rebel forces in Darfur. While force on force violence had decreased, CDA commented that AMIS efforts had not become any easier since increased fragmentation continued to give rise to new problems. Both Ihekare and Gibril said the areas of Gereida and Sheiria continued to be the most problematic because fighters formerly and/or currently tied to the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) were "running wild" there. Gibril offered complaints over the frequent turnover of land, which fueled more instability. He also cited the Sudanese government,s effort to push SLA forces from parts of Sheiria town, which created a vacuum of which JEM forces took advantage. This, in turn, required AMIS forces to remove the JEM. Ihekare and Gibril said that Sudanese negotiators meeting in Abuja had "no idea" of the situation on the ground in Darfur, and, as a result, were in no position to be effective negotiators. All agreed that the problems were becoming more complex and complicated, but they remained confident that the current forces could prevent the outbreak of sustained fighting. ¶3. (SBU) The Commander expressed his intentions to dominate militarily the area of operations (AOR),as increased outbreaks of violence threatened overall stability in Darfur and the work of NGOs, even if a sustained hot war never materialized. He noted that banditry, not military movements, was the most pressing threat in Darfur; civpol forces were not capable of protecting the towns, he added. Charge agreed that there was a growing sense of unrest and apprehension in Darfur, and offered his strong support for the General,s plan to change tactics, as doing so stood a chance of limiting the sporadic outbreaks of violence. When asked to discuss his needs, the General commented that additional military observers would be helpful and that he would welcome such assignments to his force. Meeting with the Wali: No to UN Re-Hatting -------------- ¶4. (SBU) CDA Hume thanked Wali Kibbir (the state governor) for his welcome and explained the purpose of his visit. He mentioned the visit of Rebecca Garang to Washington and the participation of the SPLM in the Abuja peace talks on Darfur. The Wali, speaking in Arabic and occasionally correcting his translator, stated that he welcomed outgoing AMIS Force Commander Okonkwo's replacement and would cooperate with him. He said that the proposed change from a AU force to one of the UN, however, would be refused by the people. "What is the failing of the AU that you are going to change?," he asked. He indicated that joint UNMIS with SAF, SPLA, and movement troops would be a good idea, but that it is important to identify the places where troops should be deployed. He expressed positive feelings about the U.S., noting it is a "big donor" for WFP, and that the people of Darfur received "lots from USAID." Humanitarian aid needs are rising, and it is important also to plan for future needs of the people. UNMIS/OCHA Meeting: Humanitarian Aid, Security Both Key -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) According to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) PolChief in Darfur, cooperation between the AU and UNMIS is quite good. This was demonstrated by the recent West Darfur incident when a UN helicopter crashed during an evacuation of NGO staff; the AU sent in armed escorts, KHARTOUM 00000316 002.2 OF 002 permitting the rescue of those injured and departure of the NGO staff. He noted that there are now more than 14,000 humanitarian workers in Darfur. The past year has been marked by incidents occurring more or less systematically; overall, the level of violence was unchanged, although the town of Kutum was attacked, which involved air attacks by Sudanese Armed Forces. Darfur is now an even more complex situation, as the framework agreement is ignored by the combatants. It is equally important to look at two factors: humanitarian aspects and security conditions. The latter might force a mass movement of people into larger urban areas; people also may be trapped due to a lack of security and access to essential services. Darfur's "hot spots" now include Sheiria and Jebel Mara, with roughly 50,000 persons displaced. ¶6. (SBU) CDA Hume expressed his disappointment in the lack of progress in the Abuja peace talks; this reflected the absence of willpower to negotiate in food faith on behalf of the people of Darfur. The UNMIS PolChief emphasized the role of dialogue and the development of civil society in addressing long-term solutions to Dafur; an effective small arms initiative would also be needed to reduce the tendency to resort to violence. One example he cited was that of the participation of women's groups in the Abuja peace talks on Darfur. Discussion continued on the evolution toward a role for the UN in Darfur peacekeeping, and the need to Sudan to cooperate to ensure that an imposed solution benefits it. Introducing additional international forces would be a sensitive matter, and would need to be target "hot spots" for civilian protection. Mil Obs: Training AMIS Peacekeepers an Important USG Goal -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) CDA Hume held a roundtable discussion with 12 military observers assigned to AMIS units in Darfur. The highly qualified observers (many with Special Forces backgrounds) discussed the importance of their mission and viewed themselves as the eyes and ears of AMIS. Noting that many of the troops they worked with seemed willing and able to fulfill their mission, the military observers expressed their frustration with what they consider to be a severe lack of leadership at both the mid-level and upper-level officer ranks. As a result, virtually all of the U.S. observers have had to assume unofficial leadership roles and provide a great deal of training and guidance to these units. This enhanced role frequently places them in harm's way, as they have yet to be issued body armor and are not allowed to carry weapons, even when accompanying their troops on missions. Morale among the U.S. observer remains high, however, and they are unanimous in their belief that more U.S. observers are needed to enhance the effectiveness of AMIS. NGO Roundtable: Security Important, Anxiety Levels Higher -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) CDA Hume asked a group of NGO representatives to share their concerns over the current situation as well as what they need to operate safely and effectively in Darfur. All the participants agreed that the situation was deteriorating in several areas, particularly Jebal Mara in Western Darfur and in Sheiria, Mershing, and Gereida in South Darfur. Anxiety levels have risen, and several NGOs mentioned their increased attention to evacuation plans. ¶9. (SBU) GOAL, the Irish NGO, has an effective evacuation plan, as was demonstrated during the January 23 skirmish in the Golo area. GOAL found it difficult to extend its activities, however, due to increased tension levels and Sudanese government policy changes that render NGO operations more complicated. The NGO believes that AMIS as currently functioning is not capable of maintaining a sufficient level of security; the notion of augmenting it toward a more robust UN-backed peacekeeping force is seen as positive. Some areas, GOAL representatives said, have been "compromised by the AU," with AMIS seen as "taking sides." A more effective way of protecting civilians must be found, they declared. AMIS is like a "paper tiger," and UN forces must come soon, as more serious conflict is expected to come over the next two months. HUME