Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM406
2006-02-16 08:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
QUESTIONS ON GOSS MINISTER GARANG'S TRIP TO
how-toVZCZCXRO9199 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHKH #0406 0470813 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 160813Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1488 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000406
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR US SU
SUBJECT: QUESTIONS ON GOSS MINISTER GARANG'S TRIP TO
WASHINGTON
Classified By: POL Michael Honigstein for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000406
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR US SU
SUBJECT: QUESTIONS ON GOSS MINISTER GARANG'S TRIP TO
WASHINGTON
Classified By: POL Michael Honigstein for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Minister Rebecca
Garang's high-profile trip to the U.S. has raised some
eyebrows among other SPLM leaders.
2. (C) Remy Oller Itorong, Deputy Speaker of the Government
of National Unity (GNU) Council of States and a close
associate of Salva Kiir, during a meeting on an unrelated
topic, pointed out that Garang was received by both President
Bush and Secretary Rice, while Kiir only managed a sit-down
with the Deputy Secretary (sic). Oller wanted to know if
U.S. policy was to undermine Kiir, split the SPLM, and put
Garang into power. He was assured that USG officials only
wanted to honor the widow of a man they greatly respected.
Oller said that the Garang inner-circle has shown a
willingness to work with Kiir, but that its members may be
emboldened by a perception of unquestioning U.S. support.
3. (C) CG Juba officials have previously fielded questions
regarding U.S. delegations that bypass higher-ranking
officials to meet with Garang, not just to pay their
respects, but to engage her on policy issues. Many GoSS
officials, however, seem reluctant to discuss the Minister's
U.S. visit. In separate meetings with officials of CG Juba,
Nhial Deng, a close associate of Garang, had no comment;
while Abdum Gua, GoSS Secretary General, deflected a question
on the visit and quickly changed the subject.
4. (U) A February 14 editorial in "The Citizen," an
independent pro-South newspaper, addressed the controversy.
The editorial, which defended Garang, explained that she is
not trying to usurp Kiir as GoSS President. The writer said
Garang is not like Corazon Aquino, a hero's widow elevated to
power, but rather like Golda Meir, a woman on a mission in
America to drum up support for her cause.
STEINFELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR US SU
SUBJECT: QUESTIONS ON GOSS MINISTER GARANG'S TRIP TO
WASHINGTON
Classified By: POL Michael Honigstein for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (U) Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Minister Rebecca
Garang's high-profile trip to the U.S. has raised some
eyebrows among other SPLM leaders.
2. (C) Remy Oller Itorong, Deputy Speaker of the Government
of National Unity (GNU) Council of States and a close
associate of Salva Kiir, during a meeting on an unrelated
topic, pointed out that Garang was received by both President
Bush and Secretary Rice, while Kiir only managed a sit-down
with the Deputy Secretary (sic). Oller wanted to know if
U.S. policy was to undermine Kiir, split the SPLM, and put
Garang into power. He was assured that USG officials only
wanted to honor the widow of a man they greatly respected.
Oller said that the Garang inner-circle has shown a
willingness to work with Kiir, but that its members may be
emboldened by a perception of unquestioning U.S. support.
3. (C) CG Juba officials have previously fielded questions
regarding U.S. delegations that bypass higher-ranking
officials to meet with Garang, not just to pay their
respects, but to engage her on policy issues. Many GoSS
officials, however, seem reluctant to discuss the Minister's
U.S. visit. In separate meetings with officials of CG Juba,
Nhial Deng, a close associate of Garang, had no comment;
while Abdum Gua, GoSS Secretary General, deflected a question
on the visit and quickly changed the subject.
4. (U) A February 14 editorial in "The Citizen," an
independent pro-South newspaper, addressed the controversy.
The editorial, which defended Garang, explained that she is
not trying to usurp Kiir as GoSS President. The writer said
Garang is not like Corazon Aquino, a hero's widow elevated to
power, but rather like Golda Meir, a woman on a mission in
America to drum up support for her cause.
STEINFELD