WEST DARFUR: SUDO LIKELY CLOSED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000724

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR D, AF/SPG, AF/PD, AND DRL
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID FOR OTI, AF/EA
WHITE HOUSE FOR M. GERSON
NSC FOR DR. COURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KPAO OPSC SU
SUBJECT: WEST DARFUR: SUDO LIKELY CLOSED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PROJECTS

REF: A. KHARTOUM 722


B. KHARTOUM 670

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Andrew Steinfeld; Reason: 1.4(b)
and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Sudan Social Development Organization, a
USAID-supported Sudanese NGO, had not worked according to its
mandate and had to be closed down, West Darfur Governor
Gaffar Abdel Hakam told Charge Steinfeld during a March 20-21
visit to El Geneina. The Governor, however, refused to
explain what work SUDO had done outside its mandate, and
rebuffed further attempts to discuss the matter. One UN
official suggested that the closure might be due to SUDO's
work on human rights in West Darfur -- a project funded by
USAID -- as part of a broader campaign to pressure local NGOs
in the state. END SUMMARY.

SUDO "Transferred Mandate," Governor Tells Charge
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The West Darfur Government shut down the local offices
of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) because
it was "working in other areas beyond its mandate," Governor
Gaffar Abdel Hakam told Charge Steinfeld on March 20; the
Charge asked the Governor about SUDO's closure during a
courtesy call in El Geneina, the state capital. SUDO was
authorized to work in the areas of health, education, water,
and sanitation, the Governor explained, but it had
"transferred its mandate to others" and was "working in other
areas." To resume operations, SUDO had to go to the West
Darfur Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) and return with
another mandate.


3. (C) As reported in Ref. B, the West Darfur HAC closed
SUDO's offices in El Geneina and Zalengei on March 11, days
after the organization's chairman, Madawi Ibrahim Adam,
published an op-ed in the Washington Times and met with
senior officials at the White House, including President
Bush. Operations outside West Darfur, however, have not been
affected. SUDO has received a USD 55,000 USAID/OTI in-kind
grant for human rights monitor training in El Geneina and
Zalengei; approval for another USD 248,000 grant for clothing
distribution to women and children victims of violence is
pending in Washington.

Are You Investigating Me?
--------------


4. (C) When the Charge asked what type of work SUDO had done
outside its mandate, the Governor retorted indignantly, "Are
you investigating me?" The Charge responded that the issue
had raised concerns in Washington. (Note: The Department's
March 20 press statement on SUDO's closing had not been
released at the time of the meeting). "We have sent a letter
to SUDO, and they know what they must do. We have a
Constitution in Sudan, and we must respect our Constitution,"
the Governor declared firmly.

HAC Knows Nothing
--------------


5. (C) In a separate meeting, West Darfur Humanitarian
Affairs Commissioner Al-Tijani Tajeddin told the Charge that
he had nothing to add to the Governor's statement about SUDO.
(Comment: This may reflect Al-Tijani's weakness compared to
a formidable Governor (Ref A),or it may just be his
inexperience. An ethnic Beja, he had only recently moved to
West Darfur from Kassala, where he had worked in the HAC's
Office; March 20 was his first official day at work. End
comment.)

UN/OCHA: Human Rights Work Behind the Closure?
-------------- --


6. (C) Andy Pendleton, West Darfur Area Coordinator for the
UN OCHA, later told the Charge that he believed the move
against SUDO was a joint effort by the West Darfur HAC and
the local National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS)
branch. "They started investigating them a while ago for
working on human rights," he noted. Pendleton had heard
stories that SUDO,s chairman had visited Washington, but did
not think the closure was a simple case of retaliation.


7. (C) SUDO Chairman Madawi confirmed on March 22 that SUDO

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had filed a request for a new mandate with the West Darfur
HAC by fax, but was subsequently told it had to present an
original copy. Madawi had then sent the original by courier,
but did not expect the HAC to receive it until March 23.
"The HAC complained that the media was making a big fuss
about this, and told me I was responsible," Madawi told the
Embassy,s FSN Political Specialist. The Embassy,s Human
Rights Officer plans to meet Madawi in the next few days, and
will report on SUDO's progress septel.
STEINFELD