DARFUR: DSRSG DEFENSIVE ON LIGHT PACKAGE, CRITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000018 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS, IO A/S SILVERBERG, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND PRM STATE PLS PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR PITTMAN, PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2027 TAGS: EAID PREF PHUM SOCI PGOV PREL SU UN SUBJECT: DARFUR: DSRSG DEFENSIVE ON LIGHT PACKAGE, CRITICAL OF MINAWI REF: A. A. KHARTOUM 0017 ¶B. B. KHARTOUM 2892 ¶C. C. KHARTOUM 2914 Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a January 5 meeting between Charge d'Affairs Hume and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) for the United Nations (UN) in SIPDIS Sudan Manuel Aranda d'Silva, the two discussed the CDA's recent visit to UN Light Package elements in El Fasher (ref A),the humanitarian environment in Gereida (ref B),and addressed recent allegations of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in South Sudan. DSRSG defended the rapid initial deployment of portions of the Light Package as a success and expressed frustration at the decaying humanitarian operating environment. The situation has prompted the UN to prepare a strongly-worded press statement, scheduled for release on Tuesday, January 9. While acknowledging some degree of validity for previous occurrences of sexual abuse in South Sudan, DSRSG indicated that the UN has been addressing the issue since January 2006. He views the article,s publication as opportunistic and a potential political attack upon the new UN Secretary General. End summary. ¶2. (C) As reported in Ref A, CDA expressed disappointment with the quality of UN personnel in the Light Package in El Fasher. DSRSG responded that the UN staffed the initial deployment by cannibalizing UNMIS and UN staff from the existing mission. Additional personnel from outside of Sudan and resources for the Light Package are not yet available. Moving the Light Package to Darfur represented the fastest deployment ever conducted by the UN. Admitting that accommodation for the initial contingent was a problem, DSRSG expressed confidence that housing for 134 people would be completed by the third week of January. Due to security concerns the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called 2 Norwegians contributed to the Light Package and instructed them to remain in Khartoum. (Note: All other personnel contributed to date were deployed. End note.) The international community needs to test and see if the Government of Sudan's (GOS) acceptance of UN support to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is a short term game or reflects an actual change in policy. Progress on the Heavy Package should continue. ¶3. (C) DSRSG met with Minni Minawi on January 2 to discuss the decaying humanitarian environment in ostensibly SLA-MM controlled portions of South Darfur. Minawi does not control SLA commanders in Gereida and needs support both to maintain and re-establish effective influence. Minawi told DSRSG, "my people in Gereida are lying to me," and did not deny that SLA carried out the December raid on NGO compounds. Non-governmental organizations (NGO) have sufficient resources in place to continue operations in Gereida for approximately three weeks. After that point the humanitarian system will start to break down. Maintenance and operation of the water system for the approximately 128,000 inhabitants and humanitarian protection remain of particular concern. The current security environment does not permit humanitarians to function. DSRSG asked if Minawi could control security in Gereida and requested placement in Nyala of a high level military liaison for the humanitarian community. If Minawi can guarantee security, the humanitarian community would return. If not, the UN might request AMIS to control the area as a neutral zone. ¶4. (C) The decaying humanitarian environment has prompted the UN to prepare a press statement, scheduled for release on Tuesday, January 9. DSRSG indicated that NGOs will issue a letter the same day supporting the UN statement. Characterizing the security situation to date as fragile yet stable, now it is partially collapsing. ¶5. (C) DSRSG acknowledged some problems with UN personnel involved in sexual abuse in South Sudan, but indicated that many of the allegations in the article were false. Research KHARTOUM 00000018 002 OF 002 on the article was completed one year ago and the release on January 3 was timed with the swearing in of the new UNSYG. The UN has been taken steps to deal with the problem, including restricting movements of Bangladeshi troops to their barracks after dusk, and stressed that this was not "a Congo situation." DSRSG was pleased wit the SPLM reaction to the article. ¶6. (C) Comment: On the margins of the January 29-30 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, UNSYG Ban is scheduled to meet with President Bashir. Ban should be prepared to frame effectively the situation regarding the deployment of the Light Package, and speak about the urgent need to improve security for humanitarian organizations on the ground. Otherwise, President Bashir gets a free ride in his first meeting with the new Secretary General. End comment. HUME