INAUSPICIOUS RESUMPTION OF AMIS CEASEFIRE COMMISSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001289 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO SOCI AU UN US SU SUBJECT: INAUSPICIOUS RESUMPTION OF AMIS CEASEFIRE COMMISSION ACTIVITIES -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) After a nearly three week hiatus of Ceasefire Commission (CFC) meetings, proceedings in the First Chamber were dominated by continued SLA-Minawi protests regarding cuts in Monthly Subsistence Allowance (MSA). The rebel reps walked out of the CFC before its conclusion. There was no discussion of substantive ceasefire violations or CFC security-related tasks, such as janjaweed disarmament oversight. The Deputy Force Commander (DFC) provided CFC participants a back brief of his meeting earlier in the week with Minni Minawi. AMIS cancelled the second set of CFC meetings on account of a VIP visit; non-signatory reps did not show up for CFC Second Chamber meetings. -------------- MINAWI STRIKE ENDS? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Despite Minni Minawi's pledge that his representatives would participate in AMIS CFC and patrolling activities, his two El Fasher CFC reps immediately disrupted First Chamber discussions by launching into a tirade about the disparity between AMIS military observers (Milobs) and signatory representatives. The core of their disgruntlement remains the reduction in their MSA. Having said their piece, the SLA-Minawi reps walked out of the meeting before its conclusion. ¶3. (SBU) Before the rebel reps departed, however, the UN CFC representative clarified that as of January 1, the UN will not pay MSA. S/CRS Field Officers reiterated that point privately with SLA-Minawi reps in subsequent meetings. ¶4. (SBU) Nearly a week following Minawi's statement that his forces would resume their duties, AMIS Operations noted that only a few rebel representatives had returned to their posts in sectors; AMIS also indicated it expected joint patrols to begin again next week. (Note: In a separate meeting with S/CRS Field Officers, SLA-Minawi CFC representative Adam Ali War presented an official letter declaring that all faction reps would return to their "duty stations" and that the issue of MSA would be raised only at "appropriate levels." End Note.) -------------- MINAWI SEEKS TO MEND RELATIONS WITH AMIS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) AMIS Deputy Force Commander Rurangwa, who chaired the meeting in Force Commander Agwai's absence, backbriefed CFC participants on his August 8 meeting with Minni Minawi (AMIS minutes sent by email to Post). The DFC highlighted four main points. First, Minawi's agreement that MSA is a political issue and should no longer be discussed at the CFC. Second, Minawi offered to give feedback to the DFC on whether and when his reps would collect their MSA for March and April (the first two months at the new, reduced rate). Third, Minawi assured AMIS that his faction posed no threat to AMIS, contrary to statements made by some of his commanders in early August. Fourth, Minawi informed AMIS that he instructed his commander in Labado to return AMIS' 13 vehicles confiscated on 30 May, though no specifics of how or when were mentioned. (Note: In August 16 discussions with the SLA-Minawi CFC rep, he speculated to S/CRS Field Officers that the field commander ultimately responsible for turning over the Labado vehicles, Jumah Hagar, would be unlikely to do so given that his forces have been fighting Arab militia units and needed the additional trucks. End Note.) -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Despite numerous armed clashes over the past month throughout Darfur, no specific cases were addressed. Additionally, no Declaration of Commitment (JEM-PW or SLA-Free Will) factions participated, further underlining the recent difficulties of the CFC. S/CRS Field Officers will encourage the new Force Commander, upon his return to El Fasher, to strengthen the mechanism and enhance its credibility. ¶7. (SBU) The issue of MSA will continue to be a thorn in the side of AMIS, negatively impacting both ceasefire investigations and patrolling activities. Several SLA-Minawi reps have conveyed to S/CRS Field Officers that they do not believe AMIS when it says that MSA reductions were mandated by donors (and the AU has never provided written records to that effect, despite numerous requests from both signatories and international observers). KHARTOUM 00001289 002 OF 002 POWERS