NO CFC FORMAL MEETINGS, BUT FOUR STOLEN LABADO VEHICLES

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001417 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 SU SUBJECT: NO CFC FORMAL MEETINGS, BUT FOUR STOLEN LABADO VEHICLES RETURNED BY SLM/MINAWI -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Formal CFC meetings were cancelled this week due to a meeting with a Sudanese Government delegation to discuss the Janjaweed Disarmament Plan (septel) and the visit of the UN Secretary General. However, some progress was made on a key CFC SIPDIS case when some of the vehicles stolen from AMIS in May were returned by the SLM/Minawi. End summary. -------------- FOUR OUT OF FIVE PROMISED VEHICLES RETURNED -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During a recent meeting with AMIS Force Commander Gen Agwai, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)/Minawi General Commander Jumah Hagar promised to return five of the 13 vehicles stolen from Labado in May as a result of the Um Zeifa road collision to show good faith. On September 3, three of the vehicles were released to AMIS at Military Group Site (MGS) Muhajeria, two Landcruisers and one Hilux. The vehicles were stripped to some degree. The El Fasher vehicle was returned on September 6, in bad repair. ¶3. (SBU) The Force Commander briefed on September 4 that the SLM/Minawi General Commander had promised to deliver four vehicles in Muhajeria and one in El Fasher. The last vehicle still has not been delivered at Muhajeria. On September 5, Field Off discussed the vehicle return issue with SLM/Minawi CFC Senior Representative Col. Adam Ali War. War said the SLA/M was upset that all of the vehicles had not yet been returned. War also indicated that SLA/M may return the remaining eight vehicles soon, without waiting for the Joint Commission to act on the Um Zeifa RTA, which FieldOff strongly encouraged. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) While the recommendations of the Um Zeifa RTA report are not quid pro quos, we would be pleasantly surprised if the remaining eight vehicles were returned prior to the Joint Commission approving the report. However, the SLA/M will likely demand compensation for the death of its driver before returning the remaining vehicles. End comment. FERNANDEZ