SLA REBELS SHOOT DOWN SAF HELICOPTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000402 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/ES, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: MOPS PGOV KPKO ASEC SU SUBJECT: SLA REBELS SHOOT DOWN SAF HELICOPTER REF: A. SECTOR 8 SPOTREP DTD 15 FEB 06 ¶B. TARIOT-WHITAKER TELCON OF 16 FEB 06 Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to a U.S. military observer assigned to AMIS Sector 8 in El Daein, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) rebels shot down a Sudanese Armed forces (SAF) helicopter east of Shaeria town in South Darfur State on February 14. The incident, preceded by several of hours of fighting between the two forces in the Shaeria area, involved two SAF Antanov helicopters that circled the area. According to his account, the helicopters engage in aerial attacks, followed by one being shot down, perhaps by 12.7 mm antiaircraft fire, at around 3:00 p.m. local time. The mil obs heard heavy explosions and witnessed thick black smoke at the apparent crash cite. ¶2. (U) Reuters reported on February 14 that SLA rebels had shot down a SAF helicopter near Shaeria the same day, and that the only surviving crew member, a Captain Muawiya Jubeir, remained a prisoner of war. ¶3. (C) Post also received confirmation of the event from the U.S. delegation to the Abuja peace talks on Darfur, which reported that Sudanese government officials admitted the event had taken place. The report included reference to an SLA-held prisoner of war, and a description of the event as involving SAF use of helicopters to support "jinjaweed" attacks. STEINFELD