DARFUR: MEETING WITH CAIRO-BASED JEM LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001911 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC KPKO EG SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: MEETING WITH CAIRO-BASED JEM LEADER REF: KHARTOUM 960 Classified by Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs Catherine Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary and action requested: In a June 20 introductory meeting with Cairo-based Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Presidency Chief of Staff Gammali Hassan Galaleddin, Galaleddin requested further contact with the USG and emphasized that "peace is our only option" in Darfur. Galaleddin said that peace talks, under UN/AU auspices, should not be based on the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) but rather address the "root causes" of the Darfur crisis: Darfur as an autonomous region; proportionate political and wealth sharing; and the right of return for displaced Darfurians. Galaleddin praised Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) efforts on Darfur, though complained of certain slights against the JEM. Relations between the JEM and the Government of Egypt (GOE) have improved, he said, since the GOE began reaching out to all parties involved in Darfur. We request Department guidance for further contact with the JEM per paragraph 6; paragraph 7 contains a bio note on Galaleddin. End summary and action requested. ¶2. (C) On June 20, poloff had an introductory meeting with Cairo-based Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Presidency Chief of Staff Gammali Hassan Galaleddin. Galaleddin welcomed the opportunity to meet a USG representative, and suggested further meetings to coordinate policy on Darfur. Galaleddin conveyed a personal message from JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim to the USG. In the message, Ibrahim thanked the U.S. for being the first UN Security Council country to declare that genocide was occurring in Darfur and for actively pressuring the Government of Sudan (GOS). Ibrahim believes that "peace is our only option," and emphasized JEM's focus on democracy, equality, and human rights. Ibrahim also complained that the U.S. included him personally in new sanctions, believing that he is a "victim" of U.S. political need to show that it is pressuring the rebels as well as the GOS. ¶3. (C) Galaleddin laid out JEM's position on a political solution for Darfur, commensurate with JEM's "Roadmap for Peace in Darfur" posted on its web site. Peace talks should be under UN/AU auspices, he said, and based on a framework that addresses the "root causes" of the problem: Darfur's status as an autonomous region in a unified Sudan; political participation and wealth sharing proportionate to Darfur's population; and right of return of displaced Darfurians to their original land. The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) "has failed," he said, and should not be a starting point for negotiations. When pressed on this point, Galaleddin did allow that the substance of any agreement is more important than the name it is under. Galaleddin hoped that the Darfur rebel groups could negotiate with one voice, with the exception of Minni Minawi's Sudanese Liberation Movement, which "does not represent the people of Darfur." ¶4. (C) Galaleddin praised the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) initiative to bring the Darfur groups together. However, he complained that the SPLM had planned to invite Darfur tribal and civil society leaders to its now-postponed Juba conference (reftel),bypassing the JEM's leadership role in Darfur. He also charged that SPLM leader, GOSS President, and Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir has delivered GOS rejections of JEM demands instead of playing a more impartial role. Additionally, he said that Kiir has been rude scheduling meetings, for instance by extending an invitation to Khalil Ibrahim to meet him in Chad in spring 2007 only at the last minute. ¶5. (C) Galaleddin said that the JEM's relations with the Government of Egypt (GOE) have improved since his arrival in Cairo in 2004, as the GOE now realizes that it must talk with all parties to realize a political solution in Darfur. In addition to limited contact with GOE representatives on the political front (nfi),JEM's Cairo office also works with the GOE to assist Darfur refugees coming to Cairo that are referred from JEM offices in Sudan. Galaleddin said that they assist about six to seven Darfurians per month. ¶6. (C) Comment and action requested: Galaleddin was clearly eager to have continued contact with the USG and often emphasized the JEM's commitment to "shared values" with the United States: peace, democracy, equality, and human rights. We request Department guidance for further contact with JEM representatives in Cairo. End comment and action requested. ¶7. (C) Bio note: Gammali Hassan Galaleddin, also spelled "Jammali Hassan Gamal Aldin," has a wife and children in Cairo. He also has a second wife, who lives near the border between North and South Darfur. End bio note. CAIRO 00001911 002 OF 002 JONES