Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KHARTOUM966
2007-06-19 13:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
SPLM DARFUR CONFERENCE POSTPONED
how-toVZCZCXRO9484 OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV DE RUEHKH #0966 1701335 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191335Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7659 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000966
SIPDIS
DEPT 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
SUBJECT: SPLM DARFUR CONFERENCE POSTPONED
REFTEL: KHARTOUM 953
KHARTOUM 929
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000966
SIPDIS
DEPT 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
SUBJECT: SPLM DARFUR CONFERENCE POSTPONED
REFTEL: KHARTOUM 953
KHARTOUM 929
1. (SBU) The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) conference on
Darfur has been postponed. No date has been set for the conference
to begin. SPLM Task Force on Darfur (TFD) chair Rev. Clement Janda
stressed that the SPLM's efforts will continue. Janda told Acting
CG Juba June 18 that he had pressed Government of Southern Sudan
(GOSS) President Salva Kiir for a new date, but Kiir had declined to
set one. Instead, Kiir reportedly counseled patience while other
efforts played out, and while consultations with the Darfur parties
continued.
2. (SBU) The postponement follows criticism of the SPLM for
involving civil society, Arab groups and other Darfurian
representatives in the first phase of its proposed three-phase
conference. It also follows refusal by key Darfur leaders to attend
the SPLM's conference (Ref. A).
3. (SBU) Janda denied reports, including one from another member of
his task force, that Eritrea was blocking groups assembled in Asmara
from participating in the SPLM conference. Eritrean officials
Yemane Gharaeb and Abdullah Jabr were in Juba June 16, Janda said,
and reported that dialogue among the Darfur factions in Asmara was
continuing and "making progress." He said the Eritreans had asked
for the SPLM conference to be postponed.
4. (SBU) Libya has, however, emerged as an obstacle, according to
Janda and GOSS Minister for Regional Cooperation Barnaba Marial
Benjamin. "They're not being helpful," Benjamin said June 17.
Janda said he had received a fax from Darfurian commanders in
Tripoli indicating that they did not plan to participate in the SPLM
conference. Only last week, Janda claimed, a Libyan envoy had
assured him there were no Darfurian commanders in Libya. Janda also
expressed frustration with the French, whom he claimed had misled
the SPLM about the June 25 Darfur conference in Paris. (Note: Other
Embassy contacts confirmed the presence of some Darfur Peace
Agreement non-signatories in Tripoli. End note.)
SIPDIS
DEPT 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
SUBJECT: SPLM DARFUR CONFERENCE POSTPONED
REFTEL: KHARTOUM 953
KHARTOUM 929
1. (SBU) The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) conference on
Darfur has been postponed. No date has been set for the conference
to begin. SPLM Task Force on Darfur (TFD) chair Rev. Clement Janda
stressed that the SPLM's efforts will continue. Janda told Acting
CG Juba June 18 that he had pressed Government of Southern Sudan
(GOSS) President Salva Kiir for a new date, but Kiir had declined to
set one. Instead, Kiir reportedly counseled patience while other
efforts played out, and while consultations with the Darfur parties
continued.
2. (SBU) The postponement follows criticism of the SPLM for
involving civil society, Arab groups and other Darfurian
representatives in the first phase of its proposed three-phase
conference. It also follows refusal by key Darfur leaders to attend
the SPLM's conference (Ref. A).
3. (SBU) Janda denied reports, including one from another member of
his task force, that Eritrea was blocking groups assembled in Asmara
from participating in the SPLM conference. Eritrean officials
Yemane Gharaeb and Abdullah Jabr were in Juba June 16, Janda said,
and reported that dialogue among the Darfur factions in Asmara was
continuing and "making progress." He said the Eritreans had asked
for the SPLM conference to be postponed.
4. (SBU) Libya has, however, emerged as an obstacle, according to
Janda and GOSS Minister for Regional Cooperation Barnaba Marial
Benjamin. "They're not being helpful," Benjamin said June 17.
Janda said he had received a fax from Darfurian commanders in
Tripoli indicating that they did not plan to participate in the SPLM
conference. Only last week, Janda claimed, a Libyan envoy had
assured him there were no Darfurian commanders in Libya. Janda also
expressed frustration with the French, whom he claimed had misled
the SPLM about the June 25 Darfur conference in Paris. (Note: Other
Embassy contacts confirmed the presence of some Darfur Peace
Agreement non-signatories in Tripoli. End note.)