USAID ADMINISTRATOR FORE'S VISIT TO SOUTHERN SUDAN: LUNCH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001884 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, AF SE NATSIOS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AID/A(BFEINSTEIN) AA/AFR(KALMQUIST),AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: USAID ADMINISTRATOR FORE'S VISIT TO SOUTHERN SUDAN: LUNCH WITH SPLM CRISIS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: SPLM Crisis Committee members told Administrator Fore that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is providing an opportunity to advance democracy and development throughout Sudan. They identified the "three areas," independent media, and rural development as priorities. Deputy SG Yasir Armin said that fundamental change will only come from within Sudan and that only the SPLM is in a position to do this. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On November 23, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance (DFA)/USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore met with members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Crisis Management Committee in Juba to discuss the ongoing conflict within the Government of National Unity (GNU) over CPA implementation. Participants: U.S. -------------- DFA/Administrator Fore CDA Fernandez Kate Almquist, USAID Asst. Admin. Patrick Fleuret, USAID Sudan Dir. John Struble, Acting C/G (notetaker) Allan Reed, USAID South Sudan Dir. Special Asst. Barbara Feinstein SPLM -------------- Samson Kwaje, GoSS Agriculture Min. Anne Itto Leonardo, SPLM Deputy Secretary General (South) Yasir Arman, SPLM Deputy Secretary General (North) -------------- Democracy and Development -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Administrator Fore emphasized U.S. support for the CPA and asked the SPLM guests for their "on the ground" perspectives on the situation. Anne Itto noted that the South, as well as Sudan as a whole, are benefiting from the CPA. She said that the CPA offers an opportunity for the SPLM and the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) to champion democracy throughout the whole of Sudan. This is only possible with the peace provided by the CPA. She added that the SPLM is seeking to implement a vision of peace and justice throughout the region, including by encouraging Darfur rebel unity in negotiations with the GNU and mediating peace between the government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army. ¶4. (SBU) Itto continued that development also depends on peace. Under the CPA, the southern economy has begun to function again and to grow. Sudan must use this opportunity to develop the capacity of its people. Only the SPLM is well placed to lead this effort. To successfully promote democracy and development in Sudan as a whole, she said, the SPLM must itself democratize and mobilize for the effort. Then it must reach out in the North to other, like-minded political parties. -------------- -------------- The Three Areas, Free Media and Rural Development -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Administrator Fore asked how the U.S. could focus its assistance to support CPA implementation. Agriculture Minister Kwaje noted that development of the "three areas" along the North-South border (Southern Blue Nile State, the Nuba Mountains in Southern Kordofan, and Abyei) has been almost forgotten. The National Congress Party (NCP) is using this neglect as an opportunity to attack the SPLM, saying "The SPLM has failed to develop the three areas." There now needs to be a focus on developing these areas. ¶6. (SBU) Samson Kwaje said there is a critical need to develop news media to disseminate accurate information, especially outside of Juba. The GoSS recently signed an agreement with a South African company to develop a broadcast satellite media outlet in the South, putting South Sudan TV before a larger audience. The GoSS needs to develop its capacity to inform and educate its population and counter misinformation. For example, he said many people in the South do not understand the SPLM's political strategy in its conflict with the NCP, falsely believe that it has pulled out of the GNU, abandoned the people of the three areas (like Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile) and that the CPA has collapsed. He also said that the population needs to be educated about the census to be held in KHARTOUM 00001884 002 OF 002 2008 and the elections in 2009. CDA Fernandez added that the SPLM also needs to be aggressively getting its "new Sudan" message out in Arabic in the North and a South African satellite will not do that, the SPLM should be on in Arabic on Arabsat and Nilesat. ¶7. (SBU) Yasir Arman commented that Southern Sudan is too dependent on its share of oil exports and badly needs to develop other revenue sources. Therefore, he said, the GoSS needs to focus on rural development. Agriculture production should be increased, both to become self-sufficient in food and as a source of export revenues. There also is a critical need to improve the delivery of health services in rural areas. Anne Itto agreed that "agriculture sustains peace." -------------- Change Through Pressure from Within -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Arman went on to say that the NCP retains a monopoly on the levers of power in Sudan: military forces, government revenues, and information. He described Khartoum as "the head of the snake." To transform Sudan as a whole, it will be necessary to transform Khartoum. He said that, in spite of the CPA, the NCP continues to seek to marginalize the SPLM. The NCP acts in the name of the GNU without bothering to consult its SPLM partners. ¶9. (SBU) Arman asked how the U.S. intends to deal with the NCP. He argued that if offered carrots, the NCP will only continue to misbehave. The NCP is unwilling to change fundamentally. It only accepts change under pressure, but pressure for fundamental change must come from inside Sudan. The SPLM offers the only democratic alternative to the NCP, he said. To challenge the NCP, the SPLM needs assistance in establishing an independent media to counter NCP lies. ¶10. (U) Administrator Fore reviewed this message before transmission. FERNANDEZ