SPLM DARFUR INITIATIVE CONTINUES, DIALOGUE NEEDED WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001130 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AU EAID UN SU SUBJECT: SPLM DARFUR INITIATIVE CONTINUES, DIALOGUE NEEDED WITH AU-UN KHARTOUM 00001130 001.2 OF 002 REFTEL: A: Small-James Telcon July 17, 2007 B: Small-James e-mail July 18, 2007 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) intends to continue its regional consultations over the next few weeks with the Darfurians with the goal of still holding a conference in Southern Sudan in early August, as originally outlined by its Darfur Task Force (Task Force). The Task Force is undeterred by AU-UN plans to meet with the Darfurians in Arusha August 3-5. They maintain that the SPLM initiative is focused on facilitating unity among the Darfurians and that they have no desire to mediate a political solution with Khartoum. There is a disconnect between the communication the Task Force is having with AU-UN representatives in Juba, who have been supportive of the SPLM, and divergent messages being transmitted by AU-UN members in Khartoum. Post is encouraging the SPLM to bridge this gap and address misperceptions about SPLM intentions with the AU-UN leadership. The Task Force will urge the SPLM Secretary General to do this in Khartoum as soon as possible. USG assistance to the Task Force will be limited to provision of office space and communications equipment, but no conference support at this stage. Please see action request Para 7. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) CG called on the SPLM Task Force members in Juba July 17 to apprise them of ongoing developments at the Second International Meeting on Darfur in Tripoli and to assess SPLM plans for holding their proposed August conference. Task Force Members Edward Lino Abyei, James Kok Ruea, and Dr. Priscilla Nyannyang Joseph, told CG unequivocally that the SPLM was continuing its consultations with the Darfurian parties and intended to hold its conference in Southern Sudan beginning August 6. They insisted that the AU-UN efforts underway will not change their dates and that only the Darfurians could get them to stand down on their plans since "it is the Darfurians meeting." The Task Force is, however, switching the sequence of their proposed discussions to include first only the non-signatories, then a meeting of both signatories and non-signatories, and finally a meeting with the civil society groups. 
¶3. (SBU) The Task Force members intend to travel in three separate groups starting July 19, for consultations with the Darfurians in: 1) Asmara; 2) London and Paris (to see Abdul Wahid and others); and 3) Tripoli. The latter group hopes to go directly from Tripoli to Darfur accompanied by the Darfurian leaders. They said this did not happen last time the Task Force members were in Tripoli and they were determined to go to Darfur this time. ¶4. (SBU) The Task Force explained that its initiative must continue because the SPLM has an interest in seeing a political solution in Darfur and could not be sidelined or brought under the AU-UN program. They insisted, however, that they were not in competition with the AU-UN and that their efforts were complementary to the AU-UN Roadmap. The SPLM Task Force asserted that it accepts the AU-UN lead on the Darfur Peace Process. Nevertheless, they said the SPLM cannot be "submerged" under the AU-UN program, which purports to be neutral, as the SPLM is a political party and is admittedly "biased in favor of the marginalized" groups in Darfur. ¶5. (SBU)) CG again met with the Task Force on July 18 to share a copy of the Tripoli Communiqu and to clarify what USG assistance to the Task Force could go forward (reftels). The Task Force members, including its Secretary Dr. Achier Deng Akol, reiterated their intent to move forward with their plans for an August 6 conference. In response to CG's inquiry on why they had not participated in the Tripoli meeting, the Task Force members said neither the SPLM nor the Task Force had been invited and admitted they had no one there representing them. They acknowledged that while there is a communication gap between the AU-UN and SPLM in Khartoum, they have had what they described as constructive conversations with two Senior UN Department of Political Affairs representatives in Juba, Vladimir A. Zhagora, who has visited Juba, and Ambassador Pascal Ngoga who is resident here. The Task Force blamed, without any details, Khartoum/NCP elements for efforts to scuttle their conference plans. ¶6. (SBU) CG encouraged the Task Force to address the communication issues with the AU-UN, which they said they would do immediately by urging SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum to meet with the AU-UN representatives in Khartoum. ¶7. (SBU) Action Request: Post will work on finalizing the transfer of the two containers for the Task Force office space and the existing communication equipment package, but will not take any action to facilitate travel to any SPLM conference at this point, as instructed by AF/SPG (septel b). We request, however, Department guidance on future USG support to the SPLM Darfur Initiative and our KHARTOUM 00001130 002.2 OF 002 message to them on those efforts. FERNANDEZ