SPLM/DARFUR: AMUM REITERATES FOCUS ON REBELS, SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000935

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU UN SU ER CD LY
SUBJECT: SPLM/DARFUR: AMUM REITERATES FOCUS ON REBELS, SUPPORT FOR
CHD

Ref: Khartoum 929

KHARTOUM 00000935 001.2 OF 002


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Amum Shares Concerns on Phase 1
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1. (SBU) Meeting with Acting CG Juba and Poloff on June 13, Sudan
People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Secretary General Pagan Amum
said that he shared U.S. concerns about the first phase of the
SPLM's conference on Darfur. As outlined by the SPLM, phase one
would bring together civil society groups, traditional leaders, and
Arab representatives (reftel). Amum said that the intention was for
the Darfur rebel factions to hear the concerns of these groups,
particularly their demands for peace, and be "emboldened" to reflect
these views during the negotiation phase. Amum said that some
Darfur groups have already objected to this approach and the net
effect "may be negative."


2. (SBU) Amum acknowledged that inviting Arab leaders associated
with some of the atrocities in Darfur, such as notorious Janjaweed
leader Musa Hillal, risked alienating the rebel factions and was a
"big mistake." He noted that the non-signatories are reluctant to
join a process that might appear to absolve the Janjaweed. Amum
also said that some of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
non-signatories feared that the SPLM conference "would pull the rug
out from under them" by allowing other groups to claim legitimacy.
Amum reiterated that the SPLM's focus should be on facilitating
negotiations with the non-signatories and the National Congress
Party (NCP). "My central idea was to make it quiet," said Amum.
"The goal is for the non-signatories to negotiate. We have no other
reason." Now that invitations have been issued to a wide range of
participants, Amum said he would try to control the process and
"minimize the damage."


3. (SBU) Amum criticized the chairman of the SPLM Taskforce on
Darfur (TFD) Clement Janda for making "public remarks" about the
difficulties of securing the attendance of Sudan Liberation Movement
(SLM) leader Abdulwahid al-Nur at the conference. The Secretary
General said that he had told Janda "you are not a mediator, you are
a facilitator." He suggested that the SPLM should focus on "doing
everything we can so that he (Abdulwahid) comes" rather than losing
leverage by criticizing him.

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Eritrea: Breaking the Strategic Siege
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4. (SBU) Amum expressed some concern that the United Nations/Africa
Union-led mediation process conflicted with the "regional mediation"
involving Eritrea, Chad, and Libya. Amum suggested that effective
cooperation on the Darfur conflict could improve the contentious
bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Eritrea. "I see it as
an opportunity," said Amum. He explained that Eritrea was isolated
from its neighbors--Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen--and wanted to "break
its strategic siege." Asmara viewed Sudan as "the weakest link" in
this siege and had determined that brokering peace in Darfur would
earn Khartoum's gratitude.

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SPLM Encourages CHD to Proceed
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5. (SBU) A representative of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
(CHD),Theo Murphy, met with Amum just after his meeting with U.S.
officials. According to Murphy, Amum reiterated his support for
CHD's proposed meeting in Nairobi for the factions of the Sudan
Liberation Army (SLA). While saying that Presidential Advisor
Maghzoub Al Khalifa still objected to bringing rebel leaders outside
of Sudan, Amum said that he would serve as a point of contact for
the Kenyan Government to confirm the SPLM's support for CHD's
effort. Explaining that the SPLM Taskforce had spoken to rebel
leaders in Darfur using intermediaries, Amum asked Murphy to put him
in direct contact with the field commanders so that he could better
explain the SPLM's initiative and address their concerns about the
meeting in Southern Sudan. Murphy had met earlier with SPLM
Taskforce chairman Janda, who had also voiced support for CHD's
initiative. Murphy reported that Janda did not view the Nairobi
meeting as conflicting with the SPLM conference and urged CHD to
proceed. Janda acknowledged that the logistical difficulties facing
both efforts prevent a precise sequencing of the two meetings, and
both should go forward.


6. (SBU) Comment: There are substantive differences, and a simple
lack of coordination, among the various SPLM elements engaged in
this process to date. Amum's leadership and close engagement is
key, and so is that of SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir--both to keep the

KHARTOUM 00000935 002.2 OF 002


process on track and to minimize SPLM disagreements. We will
continue to press both on this urgent priority. End comment.


7. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.

FERNANDEZ