PRES. ADVISOR MANSOUR KHALID DISCUSSES KEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000779

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO SOCI PINR SU
SUBJECT: PRES. ADVISOR MANSOUR KHALID DISCUSSES KEY
CONCERNS OF THE SPLM: DARFUR, POLITICAL TENSIONS, CPA

REF: KHARTOUM 00493

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: President Advisor Mansour Khalid said the
SPLM leadership had recently discussed the Darfur conflict,
the rising political tensions of the past two weeks, and the
implementation of the CPA. He said the CPA was being
implemented "deviously," with selectivity and sequencing
major issues. He also mentioned that the SPLM leadership
sought the return of Abdul Aziz, former SPLA Commander for
the North. End summary.


2. (C) In a March 23 discussion with Pol/Econ Chief,
Presidential Advisor Mansour Khalid (SPLM) said SPLM
leadership had recently met in Khartoum to review the state
of affairs. Three key concerns emerged: the Darfur conflict
and how best to deal with it; the rising political tensions
of the past two weeks (both Darfur and political tensions
covered septel); and the status of implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

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Khalid: FVP Kiir Needs to Address Darfur, Go to Abuja
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3. (C) On Darfur, Khalid stated that First Vice President
Salva Kiir would do well to go to Abuja to give the Darfur
peace talks impetus. Although Kiir had been busy, Khalid
expressed hopes that he could be convinced to go to Abuja in
the near future.

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Khalid ) CPA Being Implemented "Deviously"
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4. (SBU) When asked whether the government was implementing
the CPA, Khalid said that it was, but "deviously."
Elaborating, he said that the sequencing of implementation
was a problem, changes were selective, and that many actions
had constituted touch-ups rather than actual reforms. He
said this was not in the spirit of the CPA, nor were many of
the bureaucratic maneuverings going on, which included
failing to provide office space to commissions, making
appointments to office despite the absence of a civil service
commission. Many loopholes, remained, he added, and the
National Congress Party had found a variety of ways to keep
its officials in authority rather than replacing them with
SPLM cadres. Finally, more than 60 laws stood in need of
modification to keep them in conformity with both the CPA and
the Interim National Constitution.

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Abdul Aziz Adam al Hilo
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5. (C) Khalid said that the SPLM was seeking the return from
the United States of former SPLA Commander for the North and
SPLM CPA negotiating team member Abdul Aziz Adam al-Hilo.
Khalid said Abdul Aziz had been offered an array of
positions, including Governor of South Kordofan, minister,
National Assembly member, and others, but that for some
reason had declined to return, although he was much in need
by the party. Comment: Given that Abdul Aziz is a Muslim
northerner with extensive knowledge of issues involving the
restive East and Darfur, it is not surprising that his
absence is being felt among the SPLM leadership.
STEINFELD