INGOS TO SE NATSIOS: DARFUR SITUATION DETERIORATING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000361

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KPKO AU UN SU
SUBJECT: INGOS TO SE NATSIOS: DARFUR SITUATION DETERIORATING


Classified By: CDA Roberto Powers, reason: sections 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a March 3 meeting in Khartoum, members of
the INGO steering committee briefed Special Envoy Natsios on
humanitarian operations in Darfur. The INGOs, including CARE,
Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Goal and MedAir, reported that the
situation on the ground had deteriorated since his last
visit. Bureaucratic impediments such as expired permits and
lack of access to certain areas continue to present major
obstacles, and INGOs feel that their work is being
increasingly politicized and manipulated by Sudanese media.
One INGO representative said the signing of the DPA marked a
worsening of the security situation in Darfur. African Union
troops who are perceived as trying to enforce an unpopular
agreement have come under increasing attack. SE Natsios
warned the INGOs that large advocacy groups such as Save
Darfur are pressing for aggressive retaliatory operations,
and that operational NGOs are the only groups urging
restraint. End summary.

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Worsening Situation on the Ground
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2. (C) The INGOs reported that the number of vehicles taken
per week has risen to an average of four, IDP camps have
grown increasingly militarized, and road security has
dramatically worsened in several areas. One INGO
representative working in West Darfur mentioned that few
agencies currently travel by road, and helicopter access is
very limited. He added that armed factions had targeted NGO
facilities in the Zalengei corridor in eastern West Darfur,
an area previously considered to be relatively safe. When SE
Natsios asked if having 10,000 UN troops there would make any
difference, the general sentiment was negative. "Only with a
change of attitude on the part of the government," one
representative said.

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Politicization, Media Campaigns
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3. (C) The INGOs also noted examples of recent Sudanese media
reports that attempt to portray them as politically motivated
and non-neutral. CARE, for example, was accused of espionage
in a March 1 newspaper article, and the INGOs are routinely
suspected of giving security information to the US. The Oxfam
representative, stressing the need for an independent
humanitarian coordinator in Darfur, said that INGOs need to
be kept "very far away" from any peacekeeping operations
agreement. The representative also said that any "unilateral
action" makes it even harder for INGOs to operate. While
recognizing that certain actions affect the work of INGOs, SE
Natsios made it clear that the US and other key European and
African nations were not going to limit themselves to UN
initiatives. There are three political triggers that the US
and others are looking at, he said: 1) a deterioration in the
humanitarian situation; 2) deterioration of the political
process; and 3) lack of progress on implementing Kofi Annan's
3-phase plan. "This is fair warning," he cautioned.

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Participation in Sudan Consortium
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4. (C) Regarding the upcoming Sudan Consortium, the INGOs
told SE Natsios that they'd be willing to meet in advance
with Sudanese officials to discuss their concerns, but only
if the government itself arranged the meeting. They also laid
out three obstacles concerning the proposed half-day meeting
on humanitarian affairs to be held parallel with the
consortium: 1) preparation time is very short; 2) the role of
national NGOs hasn't been considered; and 3) little
likelihood of any final statement actually being implemented.


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Lack of Support for AMIS
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5. (C) Commenting on AMIS' role in Darfur, one representative
said that "the degree of disgust and distrust of the AU is
hard to overestimate." The INGOs said that the AU in Khartoum
faces some of the same bureaucratic impediments as they do,
and that the AU needs stronger leadership in the capital. The
INGOs also maintained that non-signatories in the Fur areas
need to be brought into the picture, and that the expulsion
of non-signatories from the cease-fire commissions has
contributed to increased violence against AU peacekeepers.


KHARTOUM 00000361 002 OF 002



6. (U) SE Natsios cleared this message.
POWERS