DEADLY ATTACK ON UNHCR COMPOUND IN YEI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000709 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PINS PGOV ASEC MOPS PREF EAID OGIV SU UN SUBJECT: DEADLY ATTACK ON UNHCR COMPOUND IN YEI Classified By: POL Eric Whitaker for reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In what appears to be a botched robbery, three bandits killed one guard and critically wounded two UNHCR staff in the UNHCR Compound in Yei on March 15. During the attack, one of the assailants was killed and another wounded. SPLA forces reportedly detained two persons, but released them, leading to speculation that they were associated with the SPLA. All SPLA forces in Yei had been paid their first salaries when the incident occurred. Some UNMIS officials think that SPLA training has become an urgent issue. The attack has raised the security ante for humanitarians, et al, working in the South, and sent a chill through the international community here. End summary. -------------- Compound Attacked -------------- ¶2. (U) At 2120 hours on March 15, three bandits armed with AK-47 rifles came through the bamboo fence backing the UNHCR compound in Yei, Western Equatoria State, and confronted an international employee, demanding that he give them USD 500. When he said he did not have the sum in question, they entered another room and demanded the same of the occupants there. When they did not comply, the bandits shot to death a local security guard and critically wounded another UNHCR local employee, Justin Duku, as well as Iraqi logistics officer Abdullah Navid. Duku was shot in the leg and Navid in the abdomen and buttocks. ¶3. (SBU) Although officially unarmed, early reports were that two other UNHCR security guards seized weapons hidden in the guard shack and returned fire, killing one bandit and wounding a second in the leg. The UN is now saying that their guards were not armed, as the UNHCR has a strict no weapons policy for all its facilities and vehicles. The surviving pair escaped, and a contingent of SPLA forces arrived shortly thereafter to pursue the attackers. The two wounded UNHCR staff members have been medevaced by helicopter to Juba. -------------- Who Dunnit? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The dead bandit is in the mortuary in Yei, but has not been positively identified. According to UNMIS, the SPLA detained two men and UNMIS requested that it hold the men until their nationality and identity could be determined. The SPLA, however, released the suspects on insufficient evidence. A senior UNMIS official expressed outrage at this action, saying that it would encourage the usual "LRA did it" rumors to start. There is speculation that the two, in fact, were members of the SPLA. UNMIS expects that the wounded bandit will eventually have to seek medical treatment, and hope to identify him at that time. -------------- And Why? -------------- ¶5. (SBU) UNMIS has long reported growing unhappiness within the SPLA over unpaid salaries but noted that this would not have been the motive in Yei: both JIU and other SPLA units there have been paid. The UNMIS sector commander has reported that while SPLA disaffection may have abated, drunkenness and indiscipline have become serious problems around Yei. ¶6. (C) UNMIS Head of Office James Ellery told Consul General Juba that he is concerned that SPLA indiscipline will only grow unless the international community provides meaningful training for the SPLA. He emphasized that this was his own view, but that he had raised the possibility of UN involvement in military training at higher levels within the UN. Ellery noted that UNCIVPOL was already actively involved in training police in the South. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) While it is too early to speculate on exactly who the attackers were, it is nonetheless obvious that the security environment in the South remains tenuous. We continue to receive reports of incidents from various areas of southern Sudan involving military and militia forces of all stripes. KHARTOUM 00000709 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) The initial UNHCR report was that its guards had weapons, and that the SPLA did not respond until after the incident was over. Now, several days later, the official story is that an SPLA soldier responded quickly and shot the attackers. The UNHCR now states that its guards did not, in fact, violate the "no weapons" policy that it rigorously enforces. This may just be the result of a thorough investigation clarifying the situation. ¶9. (SBU) The incident has spread a palpable chill among the humanitarian community in the South. Yei is a major hub of humanitarian operations, and the UNHCR compound has been used by a significant number of visiting humanitarians and other visitors, including ambassadors and senior UN officials. In light of this incident, Embassy Khartoum will review in collaboration with USAID procedures for USG visitors traveling in the South, and look closely at issues relevant to the security of the Consulate General in Juba. STEINFELD