Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KHARTOUM643
2007-04-24 15:53:00
SECRET
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
POSSIBLE EXECUTION OF SLA/M SOLDIERS BY AMIS TROOPS
how-toVZCZCXRO5318 OO RUEHMR RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHKH #0643 1141553 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 241553Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6972 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T KHARTOUM 000643
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND AF/SPG, NSC
FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE EXECUTION OF SLA/M SOLDIERS BY AMIS TROOPS
REF: IIR 6 890 0324 07
Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T KHARTOUM 000643
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND AF/SPG, NSC
FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE EXECUTION OF SLA/M SOLDIERS BY AMIS TROOPS
REF: IIR 6 890 0324 07
Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Post draws Department attention to the information
report referenced above, supported by photographic evidence,
which suggests that three Sudan Liberation Army Minawi
(SLA/M) soldiers may have been executed by Senegalese troops
in retaliation for the deaths of five of their own. The
incident occurred in the aftermath of the April 1 attack on
an African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) patrol. The
Senegalese in AMIS, along with the Rwandans, have
historically exhibited the greatest military discipline and
remain well-respected to this day. While the full
circumstances are yet to be known, the incident casts greater
light on the dysfunctional state of AMIS. At worst, the
incident points to the possibility that problems in
leadership and command and control at the helm of AMIS
actually extend all the way down to the unit level.
2. (S) Regardless of its proximate cause, the incident calls
for several actions. First, AMIS soldiers must be paid in
full and on-time. Doing so would remove non-payment of
salaries as a potential trigger for similar violence in the
future. Waiting six months on the deployment of the Heavy
Support Package is not an option. Second, the U.S. should
urge its allies in the EU to redeploy its military observers
to Darfur immediately. U.S. and EU MilObs represent the eyes
and ears of the international community and will serve as a
strong deterrent to these types of incidents. Lastly,
reports suggest that at least one Senegalese soldier, injured
in the intial firefight, later died as a result of improper
medical care. This calls for better medical training and
supplies for AMIS. In addition, medevac options for AMIS
troops wounded in the line of duty should be enhanced,
perhaps with UN assistance.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND AF/SPG, NSC
FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE EXECUTION OF SLA/M SOLDIERS BY AMIS TROOPS
REF: IIR 6 890 0324 07
Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Post draws Department attention to the information
report referenced above, supported by photographic evidence,
which suggests that three Sudan Liberation Army Minawi
(SLA/M) soldiers may have been executed by Senegalese troops
in retaliation for the deaths of five of their own. The
incident occurred in the aftermath of the April 1 attack on
an African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) patrol. The
Senegalese in AMIS, along with the Rwandans, have
historically exhibited the greatest military discipline and
remain well-respected to this day. While the full
circumstances are yet to be known, the incident casts greater
light on the dysfunctional state of AMIS. At worst, the
incident points to the possibility that problems in
leadership and command and control at the helm of AMIS
actually extend all the way down to the unit level.
2. (S) Regardless of its proximate cause, the incident calls
for several actions. First, AMIS soldiers must be paid in
full and on-time. Doing so would remove non-payment of
salaries as a potential trigger for similar violence in the
future. Waiting six months on the deployment of the Heavy
Support Package is not an option. Second, the U.S. should
urge its allies in the EU to redeploy its military observers
to Darfur immediately. U.S. and EU MilObs represent the eyes
and ears of the international community and will serve as a
strong deterrent to these types of incidents. Lastly,
reports suggest that at least one Senegalese soldier, injured
in the intial firefight, later died as a result of improper
medical care. This calls for better medical training and
supplies for AMIS. In addition, medevac options for AMIS
troops wounded in the line of duty should be enhanced,
perhaps with UN assistance.
HUME