USAU: SUDAN PRESIDENT BASHIR TELLS AFRICAN UNION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001941 AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/E E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL AU SUBJECT: USAU: SUDAN PRESIDENT BASHIR TELLS AFRICAN UNION HE WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON PEACE PROCESS DESPITE ICC INDICTMENT Classified By: Classified by Alfreda Meyers for reasons 1.4(b) & (d). ¶1. (C) During a July 16 courtesy meeting between the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security (Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra) and the Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa (Major General Cornell Wilson),the Commissioner revealed several comments regarding his meeting in Khartoum on July 15 with Sudan President Omar al-Bashir concerning the ICC indictment. Lamamra said the UN and AU Special Envoys to Dafur and the Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs were present at the meeting with Bashir. ¶2. (C) Commissioner Lamamra said Khartoum was quiet with no signs of protests. The Commissioner noted that Bashir was willing to abide by peace objectives and would protect both sides of the conflict along with diplomatic community. Lamamra noted that Bashir assured him Sudan would try to not fall into the trap of distraction with the ICC indictment and would remain focused on the peace process with no change in its current work plan toward that end. Finally, the Commissioner noted that Bashir would fight the ICC indictment on legal and political grounds and would strengthen himself by continuing to cooperate. ¶3. (C) Commissioner Lamamra's personal comments indicate the dilemma the AU is facing. He stated that impunity should not prevail and crimes should not go unanswered, but one must ask, what is the effect on the peace process and what is the impact on the people. YAMAMOTO