NEW GSE MACHINATIONS WITH DARFUR OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000253

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PINR SU ER
SUBJECT: NEW GSE MACHINATIONS WITH DARFUR OPPOSITION

REF: ASMARA 247

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (C) Summary. Eritrea is seeking to create a "new
generation of opposition" in Darfur, according to an
Asmara-based Egyptian diplomat. His assertion was
supported by a Sudanese Embassy officer in a subsequent
meeting, who viewed the latest GSE initiative with
indifference. End Summary.

ERITREA WILL CREATE NEW DARFUR OPPOSITION, PFDJ ADVISOR
STATES
-------------- --------------


2. (C) On May 2, Egyptian Political Chief Hassam
Abdallah Nooreldin (Hassam) briefed DCM on a meeting
several days prior between a visiting Egyptian
delegation and Abdella Jabir, Head of Organizational
Affairs for the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice (PFDJ),Eritrea's ruling (and sole) political
party. Abdulla told the delegation that the
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) plans to
form a "new generation of opposition" in Darfur, and
pitched the Egyptians to assist (a request they
declined, Hassam noted). According to Abdulla, the
Eritreans are pursuing two tracks in this initiative.
First, they plan to build a following for a Mr. Ahmed
Yusuf, an influential member of the Fur tribe
residing in the Jebel Mara area. (Note: Hassam stated
that this gentleman has no affiliation with any of
the current Darfur political and military players,
e.g., SLM or JEM factions. End Note.) The Eritreans
would secondly focus on creating a Darfur student
movement, particularly among former followers of
Abdulwahid Nur, headed by a prominent female student
leader from the Fur tribe. Hassam told DCM that he
had relayed this information on May 1 to Sudanese
Embassy officer Hussein Mohammed Hussein (Hussein),
who responded that the Sudanese Embassy already knew
about GSE efforts with the students, as the female
student leader was currently in Asmara as a guest of
the GSE.

SO WHAT, SAYS SUDANESE EMBASSY
--------------


3. (C) In a subsequent conversation, Sudanese Embassy
officer Hussein told DCM that he had spoken with
Abdella Jabir about the GSE's newest plans for Darfur.
Abdulla had told Hussein that the GSE was seeking to
create a strong united Darfur organization to
negotiate with the Sudanese government. Hussein said
he had informed Abdella that the Eritreans were more
likely to splinter further the Darfur groups. When
asked by DCM about the Sudanese government's reaction,
Hussein indifferently commented that there was no
unity or leadership among the Darfur groups now, and
he did not believe the Eritreans would be successful
in their latest endeavor. He also implied that Abdella
Jabir was personally pushing this initiative, which was
not necessarily in complete accordance with the views
of PFDJ Political Chief Yemane Ghebreab, the GSE's
other key Sudan negotiator. The GSE, Hussein continued,
clearly wished to maintain their influence in Darfur,
and having lost their pull with the current group of
Darfur leaders, was seeking to create a new organization
under its sponsorship. Hussein added that the Sudanese
Embassy expected to receive a fax this week from a
group of nine individuals in Darfur who the GSE planned
to invite to Asmara in the near future to initiate
discussions.


4. (C) COMMENT: This latest PFDJ initiative will represent
Round 3 in its efforts to create a client political
organization to influence outcomes in Darfur - following
the first failed attempt in fall 2006 with the National
Redemption Front (NRF) initiative (which included
Abdulwahid Nur and Khalil Ibrahim),and the second in
spring 2007 with the quickly defunct umbrella group,
the United Front for Liberation and Development (UFLD).
Despite their first two failures, the GSE still seems

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to hold the opinion that they can develop a winning
client for themselves in Darfur, an opinion clearly
not shared by our Egyptian and Sudanese colleagues in
Asmara. This initiative comes at a time when the GSE
may be losing its grasp on another would-be client/ally
to further its regional ambitions, the Alliance for
the Re-Liberation for Somalia (ARS). End Comment.
MCMULLEN