NORTH DARFUR INSECURITY ON THE RISE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002017 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: NORTH DARFUR INSECURITY ON THE RISE ¶1. (QBU) The week of December 10 saw a sharp rise in carjackings, banditry and insecurity in North Darfur, culminating on December 14 with a violent car-jacking attack on the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS),whose El Fasher Force Headquarters are located in close proximity to USG residences. On December 14 at approximately 2030, AMIS Outgoing Military Chief of Staff COL George Partington and his driver PVT Joof Eddrisa (Gambia) came under attack in their AMIS vehicle near the AMIS Level II Hospital in El Fasher while en route to Partington's residence from Force Headquarters. Four unknown armed men attacked the vehicle with gunfire, two of whom were reportedly in military combat uniforms and the other two in civilian dress. PVT Joof sustained gunshot wounds to his back, resulting in a punctured lung, and was flown to Khartoum on the same day for further medical treatment at a Level III trauma unit hospital (only a level II clinic is available at AMIS in EL Fasher). AMIS reported his condition as stable on December 16. The Government of Sudan (GoS) did not object to this nighttime medical evacuation. ¶2. (SBU) Note: There were initial reports of a second shooting at a roadblock in El Fasher just hours after this first incident, allegedly involving a PAE contractor or possibly a military observer. These reports turned out to be false (but had been passed to us as "fact") and highlighted how difficult it is to get accurate information in and from El Fasher during periods of insecurity, especially when cell phone networks are overwhelmed. Embassy Khartoum is working with our staff in El Fasher to upgrade Thuraya phones at our residences. However, many contacts that we rely on for information do not have Thuraya phones. END NOTE. ¶3. (SBU) The attackers made off with an unspecified number of personal effects, along with the AMIS vehicle itself. The vehicle, later abandoned at Abu Shouk IDP Camp and subsequently recovered, is currently at AMIS Force HQ for examination. The attack has been attributed to local banditry, which has increased during the week of December 10, including the December 12 carjacking of a PLAN vehicle by armed attackers in an NGO compound in Kabkabiya and the December 13 carjacking of an IRC vehicle in broad daylight from Abu Shouk (this vehicle, according to the Justice and Equality Movement, was recovered in Carieri and will be returned to El Fasher within the coming days). No arrests have been made in the AMIS incident, although AMIS Deputy Force Commander Karenzi and COL Partington are following up with the North Darfur Wali and the El Fasher Police. The Military and the GoS Police are jointly investigating the case, and AMIS Civpol is monitoring. ¶3. (SBU) In addition to these incidents, instability remains in Kutum, north of El Fasher, where between 1,500 and 4,000 "neglected" soldiers (possibly Arab militia) are reportedly trying to join rebel movements in Birmaza against the GoS. Current violence has forced many NGOs and INGOs to evacuate their personnel and only ICRC has so far considered resuming its inoculation activities north of Kutum (in Dar Zaghawa),which were suspended December 13. UNDSS has put its security assessment of the area on indefinite hold, pending a stabilization of the security situation. (Note: There are no USG personnel currently in the Kutum area. End note.) There are also reports of expected violence in Nyala and Ed Daein (southeast of Nyala) in South Darfur, probably connected to tensions among Arab tribes (both Abbala and Baggara Rizeigat). ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: According to El Fasher sources, vehicle hijackings are expected to increase during Eid and into the New Year. Communications throughout Darfur have been equally unpredictable, with cell phone networks down for almost a week, reportedly as a result of problems with the relay stations between El Fasher and Khartoum. The UN changed its curfew in El Fasher to 20:00 and recommends exercising extreme caution and heightened situational awareness during this time. Embassy Khartoum has advised USG staff in El Fasher to avoid all unnecessary travel after dark. FieldOff advised local national staff to limit nighttime movement in El Fasher and to observe restricted regulations on use of USG vehicles in this office as precautions. This current insecurity should be factored into decisions regarding visitors to the region in the coming weeks, especially as high-level delegations are planning their travel. ¶5. (SBU) Tripoli minimize considered. FERNANDEZ