AMIS SEES KALMA DISARMAMENT AS "GREATEST CHALLENGE"

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001986 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU PHUM SUBJECT: AMIS SEES KALMA DISARMAMENT AS "GREATEST CHALLENGE" ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In a December 11 meeting with the Charg d'Affaires and USAID Mission Director, Nyala AMIS Deputy Sector Commander and Deputy Chief Police Supervisor called the disarmament of Kalma IDP camp the "greatest challenge" facing the Mission. The Deputy Sector Commander mentioned the possibility of establishing "safe corridors" and "buffer zones" to allow movement of arms from the camp, a proposal that has not as yet been shared with the humanitarian community (septel). The CDA stressed the importance of the Government of Sudan (GoS) refraining from acting unilaterally and forcing disarmament, and the USAID Mission Director asked about UNAMID's role in securing IDP returns. AMIS Civpol warned that forcible disarmament would serve only to erase the gains of the past and jeopardize success for the future. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Participants in separate December 10 Nyala meetings with African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) Nyala Deputy Sector Commander COL Dagabe and Deputy Chief Police Supervisor Sakoreed were CDA Fernandez, USAID Sudan Mission Director Fleuret, USAID Darfur Team Leader Khandagle, USAID Nyala FieldOff Richer, USAID El Fasher FieldOff Stroschein and FieldOff (notetaker). KALMA DISARMAMENT MUST FOLLOW ITS "NATURAL COURSE" -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In a December 10 meeting with CDA and USAID Mission Director, AMIS Deputy Sector Commander (SC) reported the situation in Kalma IDP camp to be "very volatile" after the discovery of arms there. The CDA noted that any unilateral action by the GoS (namely forcible disarmament by the Sudanese Armed Forces) that could give the impression of an invasion of the camp and that could accordingly inspire the rebel movements to retaliate must be avoided. The CDA asked what AMIS' plan would be in the event that the African Union-United Nations plan for voluntary disarmament failed. ¶4. (SBU) The Deputy SC responded that although the GoS had wanted to disarm Kalma independent of AMIS, Kalma disarmament must "follow its natural course," which should be in line the AU-UN plan and should include "safe corridors" through which arms could be removed from the camp in a given timeframe. The Deputy SC agreed with the CDA's prediction that IDPs would hide their weapons in the camp during any search, adding that the IDPs considered these weapons a necessity against the threat posed by the continued presence of armed janjaweed elements outside Kalma. ¶5. (SBU) The Civpol Deputy Supervisor added that the South Darfur Wali's own plan for disarmament had completely contradicted that of AMIS, labeling those with arms in the camp "criminals" to be forcibly disarmed. He expressed hope that the GoS police would exercise restraint rather try to assert itself in Kalma without regard for collateral civilian damage: "Forcible disarmament only makes people more volatile," he said, "and we will lose the gains of the past" if this happens. AMIS PROPOSES UNVETTED SOLUTION -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Deputy SC went on to say that the establishment of "buffer zones" by UNAMID formed police units (FPUs) in which the janjaweed could not attack civilians would be one way to address the IDP fear of janjaweed reprisals. These zones, already mapped, according to the Deputy SC, would be supplemented by 24/7 patrols by police units within the camp, although these units had not yet arrived. The Deputy SC mentioned that the concept had been raised in a December 9 meeting with the Wali, who was uncomfortable with night patrols and who had not approved the idea. In a separate meeting with the CDA, however, the AMIS Civpol Deputy Supervisor claimed no knowledge of this buffer zone plan, nor did representatives of the Nyala humanitarian community (septel),who are already leery of UN-AU intentions at Kalma. ¶7. (SBU) In addition to the challenge of Kalma, both AMIS representatives agreed that other security risks in Nyala exist. The Deputy SC flagged carjackings, banditry and shootings as particularly problematic, resulting in a reduction of the curfew in the town to 6 p.m. The Civpol Deputy Supervisor added that tribal attacks, the presence of National Redemption Front rebels in Haskanita and offensive GoS actions were taking their toll on the humanitarian community in the region. The Civpol Deputy Supervisor expected the overall situation to markedly improve once UNAMID deployed, including resolution of the myriad logistical deficiencies currently faced by his office. ¶8. (SBU) In the face of so insecure an environment and of unresolved disputes over IDP lands, USAID Mission Director asked about the likelihood of IDP returns and about UNAMID's protection role therein. The Deputy SC expressed hope that the Mission would have the capabilities to provide for safe voluntary returns, stressing the importance of robustly implementing UNAMID's mandate in this regard. He reiterated his belief that buffer zones would assist in this provision of security; however, it remains to be seen how this KHARTOUM 00001986 002 OF 002 plan will materialize and fit into overall existing humanitarian operations. ¶9. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. FERNANDEZ