DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH NORTH DARFUR WALI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000590

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND IO A/S
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN PREL PGOV MOPS PINR PMAR
KPKO, EAID, UN, AU-1, SU
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH NORTH DARFUR WALI
YOUSEF KIBBIR

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Classified By: CDA C. HUME, REASON: SECTION 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: In his April 14 meeting with the wali of
North Darfur Yousef Kibbir, Deputy Secretary Negroponte
stressed the strong interest taken by the US government and
the American people in the situation in Darfur and the need
for the Sudanese government to implement commitments made in
the recent humanitarian access communique. The Deputy
Secretary called for the urgent deployment of an AU/UN hybrid

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peacekeeping force in Darfur. The wali welcomed the
"important" role played by the US in Darfur. He characterized
the humanitarian situation in North Darfur as stable, though
acknowledged that there is a lack of trust between the
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in his state and the
government. End summary.

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HUMANITARIAN SITUATION "IMPROVING"
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2. (C) In a small preliminary meeting with the wali and a few
members of his delegation, the Deputy Secretary explained
that his visit to Sudan came at the request of Secretary
Rice, noting how important the issue of Darfur is to the US
government as well as the American people. He asked the wali
for his assessment of the security, political and
humanitarian situation in Darfur. The wali welcomed the
visit, saying that the Sudanese government values cooperation
with the international community. In the larger meeting, the
wali continued to express appreciation for the role the US
plays in Darfur, though noted that there is "no need to
increase our animosity." The Sudanese government wants
assistance in bringing comprehensive peace to Darfur, he
said, and to come to an agreement with the US.


3. (C) While admitting that problems exist, the wali said
that the reality on the ground was better than the
international community reports it to be. Speaking to the
humanitarian access communique, the wali maintained that
relationships with international NGOs are "good" and that the
government is waiving certain fees for humanitarian
organizations and obtaining visa renewals for aid workers.
The Deputy Secretary said that the US would carefully monitor
the implementation of the communique and expected that its
committments would be honored. The Deputy Secretary assured
the wali that the INGOs have no intention of harming the
sovereignty of Sudan.

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HELP REBUILD TRUST, IMPLEMENT THE DPA
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4. (C) The Deputy Secretary emphasized the need for urgent
deployment of the AU/UN peacekeeping hybrid force in Darfur,
as well as the importance of bringing all groups into
compliance with the DPA. The wali called the hybrid force a
"federal matter," and advocated taking up the topic with the
government in Khartoum. The wali also asked that the US look
at the situation in Darfur with "two eyes" and to hear with
"two ears." Speaking to security violations, the wali put the
blame on individual actors and rebel groups.


5. (C) Noting that the number of IDPs in some camps near El
Fasher had almost doubled in the past six to eight months,
the Deputy Secretary asked the wali to outline his plan for
helping people return to their villages. The wali denied the
increase in numbers, saying that the population in the camps
fluctuates. He suggested that the access to free food, water
and education have in some cases made IDP camps more
attractive places to live than the surrounding villages. The
wali asked for international cooperation to help rebuild
trust between the local government and the IDPs. In order to
enable people to return to their villages, he said,
non-signatories need to join the peace process and a
political understanding between all parties is required.


6. (U) Participants:

U.S.
The Deputy Secretary (both meetings)
Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
(both meetings)

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Cameron Hume, Charge d'Affairs (both meetings)
Bobby Pittman, Senior Director for Africa, National Security
Council (both meetings)
Bill Garvelink, USAID (both meetings)
Colonel Dennis Giddens, DoD advisor
Roberto Powers, DCM
Lt. Col. Joe Bovy, DoD
Kathryn Lauer, USAID
Mike Holshey, Regional Affairs Office
Gustavo Delgado, D staff
Ted Wittenstein, D staff
Nina Behrens, translator
Jennifer Larson (notetaker)

Government of Sudan:
Yousef Kibbir, Wali of North Darfur
Fawziyah Abbas, Advisor for Women's Affairs
Tijani Ahmad Sineen, Advisor
Muhammad Atiyah, Advisor for Legal Affairs
Albino Togo, Advisor
Muhammad Idris Abdul Rasul, Advisor
Ali Muhammad Ahmad Tango, State Commissioner
Ahmad Issa Abdul Mahmoud, State Commissioner
Hussein Muhammad Hamid, State Commissioner
Adam Ali Ghosh, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation

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