Sudan: Full Court Press Against UN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000467

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PINR KPKO UN AU SU
SUBJECT: Sudan: Full Court Press Against UN
Intervention Continues

REF: Khartoum 447


1. The Government of Sudan is continuing its intensive
public and diplomatic efforts to oppose UN intervention
in Darfur. In addition to a significant media blitz, and
the public chastising of SRSG Jan Pronk, the government
has pushed in the National Assembly. Foreign Minister
Lam Akol addressed the body on February 22, blasting
international intervention as a threat to sovereignty and
an escalation of the crisis. The Assembly then passed a
resolution expressing opposition to any foreign
involvement in Darfur. The resolution was reported to be
unanimous, although members of several parties, including
the SPLM, insisted on verbiage that highlighted a
negotiated peace in Abuja as the best means to avert
foreign interference. The other legislative body, the
Council of States, is currently considering an emergency
session to address the same issue.


2. The press also reported that President Omar al-Bashir
called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss
Darfur. Iranian Vice President Ahmed Musavi used a
meeting with the new Sudanese ambassador in Tehran to
express his desire for Sudan and Iran to collaborate in
order to resist Western interference in Muslim nations.
In Algiers, Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa
declared that the African Union and the Arab League are
the appropriate fora to resolve this crisis; the Arab
League Summit will be held in Khartoum at the end of
March. The Sudanese also registered their opposition
with the visiting British Secretary of State for
International Development Hilary Benn.


3. Additionally, a major aspect of the government
strategy for preventing UN rehatting has involved
outreach to civil society and other political parties.
Assistant to the President and Deputy Chair of the
National Congress Party (NCP) Nafie Ali Nafie held a
meeting with parties within the government to develop an
opposition strategy. Meanwhile, a newspaper reported
that Vice President Ali Osman Taha plans to reach out to
opposition party leader Hassan al-Turabi to develop a
unified Islamic front. Turabi, who is reportedly
associated with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement
(JEM) in Darfur, has dismissed the possibility of a
meeting. The Sudanese Popular Organization Defending
Creed and Homeland, a radical fundamentalist Islamic
organization with ties to the NCP, has released a
statement calling for a strong and united Islamic
opposition to international engagement.

HUME