AMIS CEASEFIRE COMMISSION STILL HAMPERED BY SLA/MM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001368 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO AU UN US SU SUBJECT: AMIS CEASEFIRE COMMISSION STILL HAMPERED BY SLA/MM NO-SHOWS OVER MSA, LITTLE OF SUBSTANCE DONE REF: Khartoum 1289 Sontag/Small/Goosey Email -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Although the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Minawi representatives attended the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) meetings at the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) headquarters in El Fasher, the majority of their representatives in the sectors stayed off the job, despite instructions to return to work. Although much of the discussions in both chambers was spent bickering over the monthly subsistence allowance (MSA),the report on the Labado incident was adopted and the CFC members the Kalma IDP Camp incursion. S/CRS Fieldoffs again stressed to the SLA/Minawi head representative that the no-shows in the face of Minawi's promise that they would return reflects negatively on movement. End summary. -------------- WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE NO-SHOWS? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Despite Minni Minawi's pledge that his representatives would participate in AMIS CFC and patrolling activities, the vast majority of the SLA/Minawi representatives did not show up for work this week. The SLA/Minawi representatives in El Fasher attended, along with a few in one of the eight sectors. In addition to Minawi's promise that they would return to work, the senior CFC representative had also issued a directive to the other representatives to return to work (Ref A). However, some field representatives responded to AMIS that they only follow orders from SLA/Minawi General Commander Jumah Hagar, not from their senior CFC representative. One field representative said his local commander had directed him not to resume his duties before August 31, when he expected the MSA issue to be resolved. ¶3. (SBU) S/CRS Fieldoffs met with the senior SLA/Minawi CFC representative, Adam Ali War, several times in the past week to encourage him to get the other representatives back to work. S/CRS Fieldoffs pointed out two key negative consequences for SLA/Minawi as a result of the continuing no-show: It raises doubts as to how much control Minawi has over his own people and portrays the representatives as more interested in money than in the work of the CFC. -------------- HAVE AN MSA CONFERENCE, AND PUT IT TO BED -------------- ¶4. (SBU) S/CRS Fieldoffs also encouraged Ali War to have Minawi follow through on his proposal to have a conference with AMIS, the MSA donors, and SLA/Minawi to clear the air about the MSA reduction. A conference might emphasize that the MSA is an allowance, not a salary; that it will stay reduced until December; and that it will stop when the UN takes over. A conference might put the issue to rest, as well as demonstrate (as most CFC members and observers have been saying all along) that the MSA reduction is a political issue that should not be discussed in the CFC forum. -------------- RELATED COMPLAINTS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The SLA/Minawi representatives also complained about a lack of communication and transportation support, although the Chairman reminded them that AMIS itself is lacking such resources. The non-signatory factions (NSF) in the Second Chamber made similar complaints (Note: In addition, they also complained about no longer being provided with water by PA&E. Ref B. We were also asked for help with tents and mattresses. End Note.). -------------- SUBSTANTIVE CFC MATTERS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The First Chamber voted to forward a report to the Joint Commission on the Um Zeifa Road Traffic Accident (RTA) that occurred near Labado, South Darfur in May. In that unfortunate incident, a negligent AMIS APC driver collided with an SLA/Minawi vehicle, killing its driver. The SLA/Minawi members then shot and wounded several AMIS troop, and seized thirteen vehicles and several weapons. The report found that the AMIS driver was negligent and AMIS should pay compensation but that the SLA/Minawi troops then violated ceasefire rules. KHARTOUM 00001368 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) On the evening of August 20, the Sudanese Government raided the Kalma IDP Camp in South Darfur, allegedly searching for the perpetrators of an attack on a police station the previous week in which one Sudanese officer was killed. The police claim they arrested 19 persons and seized five weapons from the camp. Several rebel leaders have condemned the raid on the IDP camp in the press, and it was raised at the CFC as well. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) representative blamed both the Government and SLA/Minawi, claiming the only armed people in the IDP camp were Janjaweed collaborators and that the Government was trying to close down or drive IDPs away from the camp. He also hoped for the CFC to visit the camp, and, surprisingly, said that AMIS should take over more IDP camp security. The Chairman responded that the Sector Commander would look into the matter. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The continued absence of the SLA/Minawi representatives in the field is still a problem. A meeting among SLA/Minawi, the donors, and AMIS about the MSA could at least put that particular issue to rest. However, the continued absence, despite Minawi and the SLA/Minawi senior representative's directives, highlight the limits of Minawi's control over his own faction, as well as an unclear chain of command within the movement. End comment. FERNANDEZ