UNSC ADOPTS PRST CONDEMNING DARFUR ATTACK

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SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF AND IO FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE NATSIOS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: UNSC ADOPTS PRST CONDEMNING DARFUR ATTACK

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 B/D.


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Security Council adopted a presidential
statement condemning the September 29 killing of 10 AMIS
peacekeepers at a camp near Haskanita, South Darfur (please
see paragraph 6 for PRST text). The PRST adoption followed
two days of heated Security Council debate on October 1 and 2
in which Russia, South Africa and Qatar led an effort to
insert unacceptable language into the text. END SUMMARY.

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Round 1
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2. (U) The Security Council held two sessions October 1 and 2
to consider a response to the September 29 attack on an AMIS
camp near Haskanita, South Darfur that left 10 peacekeepers
dead. On October 1, DPKO U/SYG Guehenno delivered a short
factual briefing on the Haskanita attack, which began at in
the evening on September 29. The perpetrators returned again
a few hours later and overran the camp, looting significant
quantities of material and weapons. Guehenno said that 10
AMIS peacekeepers had been killed (7 Nigerian, 1 Bostwana, 1
Malawian, 1 Senegalese). In addition, 14 peacekeepers were
injured and another 6 were unaccounted for. Guehenno
declined to assign blame for the attack to any specific
group, but said the UN and AU had agreed to dispatch a joint
investigation team to Darfur. Guehenno argued that the
attack demonstrated the need for a UN/AU force with robust
capabilities, noting that AMIS had been unable to deploy
reinforcements or evacuate its forces following the first
attack because of a lack of aviation assets and ongoing
Sudanese air restrictions.


3. (U) Following Guehenno's briefing, the Security Council
took up consideration of a press statement condemning the
attacks. Movement towards a consensus text faltered after
Russia, South Africa and Qatar insisted on describing the
attacks as a "terrorist" act and assigning blame to "rebel"
elements. Russian PermRep Churkin left the room abruptly
after Ghana distributed a new draft of the text that did not
include his suggested edits, demanding that the attack be
described as a "terrorist" attack carried out by "rebel
groups." "If these two elements are not included, we prefer
no statement at all," Churkin said. Russian D/PermRep Dolgov
remained, but with no flexibility to negotiate. Following
two hours of unproductive discussion and Russian
intransigence, delegations agreed to take up a Council
response the following day in the form of presidential
statement.

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Round 2
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4. (C) Council debate on October 2 focused exclusively on
whether to condemn the attacks as a "terrorist" attack and
assign blame to rebel groups. Russia, South Africa and Qatar
led the push to include a reference to terrorism and rebel
forces. (NOTE: The PRC Sudan expert told Poloff that his
delegation had not participated actively in either Council
session because his delegation had not received instructions
in time. END NOTE.) Russia and South Africa repeatedly
referenced media reports that UN Special Envoy Jan Eliasson
and UN/AU SRSG Rodolphe Adada believed rebels were behind the
attack to support their position. In response to objections
from France and the UK, South Africa began to soften its
position and the word "terrorist" was excised from the text.
After that, Russian PermRep Churkin dug in and rejected all
additional formulations proposed by the U.S., UK, France,
Slovakia and Belgium to deal with responsibility for the
attack. D/PermRep Dolgov eventually accepted a proposal which
retained a reference to "a rebel group" as a possible
perpetrator, but drafted to make clear that the Security
Council had not drawn that conclusion.

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Finalized Text
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5. (C) Presidential Statement on the Haskanita attack as
adopted by the Security Council on October 2:

The Security Council was briefed on 1 October on the recent
attack on African Union peacekeepers in Haskanita, South
Darfur, Sudan, reportedly committed by a rebel group. The
Council condemns this murderous attack and demands that no
effort be spared so that the perpetrators be identified and
brought to justice.

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The Security Council deplores the loss of life and injuries
that resulted from this attack, and conveys its sympathy to
the governments, families and colleagues of those killed and
injured.

The Security Council reiterates its support for the African
Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and commends the dedication of
its personnel and expresses its appreciation for those
countries which contribute troops to AMIS.

The Security Council recalls the demand in resolution 1769
(2007) on all parties for an immediate cessation of
hostilities and attacks on AMIS, civilians and humanitarian
agencies. The Council insists that all parties in the Sudan
comply with this demand and cooperate fully with the
deployment of the United Nations Light and Heavy Support
Packages to AMIS, and with UNAMID.

The Security Council deplores the fact that this attack took
place on the eve of the peace talks starting on 27 October in
Tripoli, under the chairmanship of the United Nations and the
African Union. The Council underlines that any attempt to
undermine the peace process is unacceptable.

KHALILZAD