KHARTOUM CDA FERNANDEZ MEETS WITH DUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002560 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF FOR SPG; SE NATSIOS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SU SUBJECT: KHARTOUM CDA FERNANDEZ MEETS WITH DUP LEADER-IN-EXILE MIRGHANI AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF NORTH DARFUR STATE SULEIMAN IN CAIRO Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Jones Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(C) Summary. Visiting Embassy Khartoum Charge d'Affairs Alberto Fernandez met separately with Muhammad Othman al Mirghani, exiled leader of Sudan's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP),and retired General Ibrahim Suleiman, former Governor of North Darfur, during his August 13-16 visit to Cairo. Both were relatively pessimistic about Sudan's future. Mirghani stressed that any decision on the future of Sudan must be determined by the Sudanese people through elections. Suleiman assessed that the struggle in Darfur could be solved by addressing wealth, land, security and political leadership. He argued that the GOS, in fighting the Darfur insurgency, had armed Arab tribes "upsetting the balance of power in Darfur for the next 50 years." CDA Fernandez said that the next few months could be a moment of opportunity, but that the Sudanese government's fear that the USG will act to bring it down should not keep the GOS from fulfilling UNSCR 1769 responsibilities, and make peace with Darfur rebel movements. End summary. 2.(C) CDA Fernandez and poloff met August 13 with DPU leader in exile Mirghani (also head of the Khatimyn Sufi Order and semi-moribund National Democratic Alliance, which includes the SPLM) at his villa in Misr al Jedida. Mirghani, in his seventies and wearing traditional Sudanese attire, warmly welcomed the meeting, noting that he had not met with senior USG officials since a November 2005 meeting with then-Secretary Powell. He gave a wandering overview of recent political developments in Sudan, stressing that Islam does not condone violence, and accepts Christians. Mirghani expressed pessimism about the utility of numerous conferences and interventions of the international and African communities in Sudan. The future of Sudan, he stressed, should be determined by the Sudanese people themselves. He lamented that the focus on Darfur in recent years has taken attention away from the primacy of the North-South divide, and said that the international community needs to pay greater attention to the electoral process. If there were elections and the DUP lost, then he would be accept the result. Mirghani presented CDA Fernandez with a document 
outlining the DUP's viewpoint on settling the Darfur dispute, as well as a proposal for "the establishment of a special court for the prosecution of persons responsible for crimes committed in Darfur". He argued that any real solution to this key issue must balance justice for the perpetrators with the need for a positive political future for Sudan. 3.(C) On August 14 CDA Fernandez and poloff met with retired Sudanese General Ibrahim Suleiman. Suleiman explained that he is in Cairo for medical treatment (NFI) and plans to return to Khartoum in the coming months. Suleiman noted that it was the first time he had met a chief of mission from the American Embassy in Khartoum. A Berti tribesman born and bred in Darfur, he is best known as the man who jailed Janjawid leader Musa Hilal (later released by the GOS to continue his murderous career). Suleiman's 37 year career in the military ended in 1999, at which point he went into civil service as a minister of state, and later served as Governor of North Darfur from 2001-2003. Suleiman had little hope for the current Sudanese political situation but did not blame Bashir personally. He noted that he has known Bashir for a very long time (having graduated from the 16th class of the Sudanese Armed Forces Staff College, two years ahead of Bashir),and had worked for him at one point. 4.(C) Suleiman gave a historical overview of Darfur, pointing out that there have been security problems dating back to the 1960s. The Fouris had been displaced by years of drought, and the remaining fertile land in West Darfur is now "occupied" by refugees from Chad. This led Suleiman to his assessment that any Darfur settlement must address land rights and ownership. He suggested convening four "workshops" to address land, security, wealth, and political leadership. These workshops could be comprised of "councils of experts" from the native administration, lawyers, refugees, and displaced persons. Once these workshops produced a set of findings, a larger conference could be convened to conclude a negotiated settlement. CDA Fernandez noted that UN Special Envoy Jan Eliasson and others have been searching for just such ways to bring Darfuris together, and welcomed Suleiman's ideas. 5.(C) CDA Fernandez delivered a clear message to both Mirghani and Suleiman: there is a window of opportunity over the coming months, but it will close quickly. The USG does not want to bring down the Bashir government, but the regime CAIRO 00002560 002 OF 002 must fulfill its UNSCR 1769 responsibilities, and change its self-destructive behavior. It would be a serious mistake for Bashir to conclude that the USG is "out to get him." It is the regime's behavior, not USG and international pressure, that puts it in jeopardy. Failure for the Bashir regime to realize this would potentially lead to a "self-fulfilling prophecy." Both Sudanese leaders welcome greater USG engagement and contact with themselves and their organizations. ¶6. (C) Bio notes: Mirghani's residence in Misr al-Jedida was well appointed; he had a large meeting room and several staff to wait on him. Suleiman, on the other hand, was residing at a relatively modest flat in Mokattem (about 30 minutes from downtown Cairo) with family members. ¶7. (U) Khartoum CDA Fernandez cleared this message. RICCIARDONE