SUDANESE OFFICIAL, JEM REPRESENTATIVE ON IBRAHIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002241

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS EG SU
SUBJECT: SUDANESE OFFICIAL, JEM REPRESENTATIVE ON IBRAHIM
YEHIA CAIRO PEACE DEAL


Classified by acting Political Counselor Roger Kenna for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On July 19, poloff discussed with Sudanese Embassy
Political Counselor Mohamed Al Rashid the peace agreement
between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and Ibrahim Yehia Abdul
Rahman, representing a faction of the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM). Local press had reported that this agreement
been concluded in Cairo on July 15. Al Rashid admitted that
Yehia represents only a small faction of the JEM, but said
the GOS is in desperate times, similar to a drowning man who
must "grasp at even the smallest stick." As long as the
major Darfur rebel groups refuse to negotiate with the GOS,
he continued, the GOS must negotiate smaller deals with any
willing party. Al Rashid said that according to this
agreement, Yehia and members of his Masalit tribe can return
to Darfur safely and become integrated into life and
institutions there. He said that the GOS did not offer Yehia
any personal incentives, such as money or a designated
position in the government.


2. (C) Poloff discussed the agreement separately on July 19
with Cairo-based JEM Presidency Chief of Staff Gammali Hassan
Galaleddin. Galaleddin opined that Yehia must have
negotiated this deal for "personal reasons," because, since
"Arabs already occupy the land," Yehia's Masalit tribe has
nowhere to which to return. Galaleddin at first called the
agreement a "blow" to the JEM, but then added that most of
the Masalit tribe "did not go with Yehia," because the
agreement "does not address root concerns" such as power and
wealth sharing and returning displaced persons to their
original land. The JEM will fill Yehia's position as Chief
of the Legislative Body "soon" with someone else from the
Masalit tribe, Galaleddin said, implying that this would help
the JEM retain Masalit support.


3. (U) The Egyptian government daily Al Ahram reported on
July 16 that the GOS and the JEM, led by Ibrahim Yehia Abdul
Rahman, signed a peace agreement in Cairo on July 15. Al
Ahram reported on July 17 that JEM representatives in Darfur
denied that Yehia represented the JEM as a movement.
Egyptian independent daily Nahdit Misr reported on July 18
that the parties had agreed only to cooperate on returning
refugees from the Masalit tribe to Darfur, and did not
address issues such as division of power and resources.
RICCIARDONE