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 KHARTOUM 00000590 001.2 OF 002 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 SIPDIS 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. -------------- HUMANITARIAN SITUATION "IMPROVING" -------------- ¶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. -------------- HELP REBUILD TRUST, IMPLEMENT THE DPA -------------- ¶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) KHARTOUM 00000590 002.2 OF 002 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 HUME