CORRECTED COPY - DEPUTY WALI AND POLICE COMMANDER WELCOME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001994

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: CORRECTED COPY - DEPUTY WALI AND POLICE COMMANDER WELCOME
CDA IN SOUTH DARFUR


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In a December 10 meeting with the Charg
d'Affaires (CDA) and USAID Mission Director, South Darfur Deputy
Wali (Governor) Farah and South Darfur Police Commander Mohamed
encouraged the CDA and Mission Director to see the "reality" in
South Darfur as the first step in solving Darfur's problems. The
Deputy Wali characterized the intensity of fighting between Arab
tribes as having eclipsed that between the Government of Sudan (GoS)
and the rebel movements. He hoped that the USG would be able to
assist in bringing Darfuri parties together to reconcile these
differences. The Deputy Wali was receptive to the Mission
Director's plan to visit original home locations and possible
resettlement locations around Darfur in January to assess security
and developmental factors affecting prospects for IDP returns during
the proposed visit of USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Hess
(AA/DCHA). On Kalma disarmament, the Police Commander agreed with
the CDA that unilateral GoS action in the form of forcible
disarmament was not the answer and instead indicated GoS concurrence
with the latest disarmament plan put forward by UNAMID Joint Special
Representative Adada. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Participants in December 10 meeting with South Darfur
Deputy Wali (Governor) Farah and South Darfur Police Commander
Mohamed 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).

NEED ASSISTANCE IN TRIBAL RECONCILIATION
--------------

3. (SBU) The South Darfur Deputy Wali on December 10 encouraged the
CDA and USAID Mission Director to see for themselves the "reality"
of what was happening on the ground in South Darfur, particularly
with regard to problems between and among Darfur tribes. He said
that although Darfur tribes "know themselves" and the differences
between them, tribal lines in the current situation were blurred, as
tribes were fractioning and fighting amongst themselves. He
asserted that inter-tribal fighting had resulted in more deaths in
Darfur than had violence between the GoS and the rebel movements,
thus disproving, in his estimation, the theory that the Darfur
conflict was African versus Arab. The Deputy Wali reminisced about
traditional times when sheikhs sat together to resolve these types
of tribal disputes, and he solicited the CDA's assistance, as well
as that of the international community as a whole, in taking up the
mantle to bring Darfuri parties together to reconcile these
differences.

SAKALI INDICATIVE OF GOS VISION OF RETURNS
--------------

4. (SBU) Previewing the CDA's and USAID Mission Director's visit to
Sakali Relocation Site, the Deputy Wali discussed four options on
the table for dealing with the 200 families relocated there after
October violence in Kalma IDP camp. First, the Deputy Wali said
that Sakali residents could return to their original villages prior
to Kalma settlement; second, they could settle in Sakali Town;
third, they could go to another IDP camp besides Kalma; or fourth,
they could settle with relatives in Nyala Town. The Deputy Wali
indicated a GoS readiness to provide free land and basic services
for those Sakali residents willing to settle around Nyala [NOTE:
This offer could explain the scores of "squatters" in the areas
immediately surrounding the Sakali South site who are attempting to
get a piece of this GOS land-grab. END NOTE].


5. (SBU) The CDA warned that incentivizing returns was not far
removed from forcing returns, especially to areas where security
concerns prevailed. The Deputy Wali replied that no returns would
occur without a GoS police presence, such as that which had been
established in Sakali before the arrival of IDPs from Kalma. The
USAID Mission Director applauded this three-fold message linking
returns to security and police presence and indicated that with
effective security, in locations chosen by IDPs themselves for
return, USAID could plan assistance to help make the plan a reality.
He mentioned the planned visit in January by USAID Assistant
Administrator Michael Hess to tour original home locations and
resettlement locations around Darfur to assess security and
developmental possibilities. Mission Director highlighted the need
for this delegation to get beyond regional capitals and IDP camps
and to access more remote locations. The Deputy Wali assured that
security permitting, this type of access would be granted.

KALMA'S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS PRESENCE OF ARMS
--------------

5. (SBU) Turning to the topic of Kalma IDP camp, the CDA referred to
a letter sent to the USG alleging civilian deaths in the camp, which
was the basis of his current visit to Nyala. The CDA agreed with
the Deputy Wali's assertion that the presence of arms in Kalma was
the greatest threat to the camp, not least because of the
potentially great collateral damage that could result from any
outbreak of fire, whether from IDPs or from GoS police. The CDA

KHARTOUM 00001994 002 OF 002


warned that any forcible disarmament of the camp could be construed
as a GoS "invasion," for which the GoS police would ultimately be
blamed. To avoid this unintended consequence, the CDA urged the GoS
to cooperate with the African Union (AU) and to let that
organization take the lead on Kalma disarmament.


6. (SBU) The Deputy Wali said the GoS police have a duty to address
Kalma's problems, regardless of their "politicization," and to this
end, the GoS police had conducted numerous meetings with IDP
representatives, including the Kalma sheikhs. He assured that the
GoS police were proceeding in lockstep with the AU, even requesting
in writing that the AU oversee and investigate Kalma weapons
allegations. The Deputy Wali and Police Commander confirmed GoS
concurrence with the latest disarmament plan put forward by UNAMID
JSR Adada, saying they had notified the Ministry of the Interior and
the Khartoum Police Commissioner once the GoS police in Nyala had
signed off.


7. (SBU) Still, Kalma problems persisted, according to the Deputy
Wali, due in large part to conflict between Darfur Peace Agreement
signatories and non-signatories, especially supporters of
Abdelwahid. He added that "thieves" in Kalma who wreak havoc on the
town seek refuge in the camp, a trend which he said the GoS was
working with the AU and UNAMID to stem. He reiterated the need for
USG and international assistance to find a solution to this aspect
of the Kalma problem as well.


8. (SBU) Tripoli minimize considered.

FERNANDEZ