EMBASSY KHARTOUM PREPARATIONS IN ADVANCE OF ANTICIPATED ICC

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001049 BT SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: EMBASSY KHARTOUM PREPARATIONS IN ADVANCE OF ANTICIPATED ICC INDICTMENTS AGAINST SUDANESE REGIME REF: KHARTOUM 1046 ¶1. (SBU) One day before the anticipated announcement by the ICC of indictments against senior Sudanese regime officials, Khartoum remains calm but the city is rife with rumors and speculation about what will happen and how the regime and other political forces in the country will react to the indictments. As just one example, on July 10 rumors raced across the city and even reached Juba and El Fasher that another Darfur rebel attack on the capital was imminent and that a rebel column was within 100 kilometers of the capital. This rumor even made it into the local news media but ultimately turned out to be false. The SPLM held an emergency meeting of its Political Bureau July 11 to discuss options in response to likely NCP actions following the indictments (septel). Many keen observers including UN officials speculate that rebel forces and even possibly the SPLM could take advantage of the indictments to undermine the regime, but it is still too early to tell. ¶2. (U) Khartoum residents anticipate demonstrations against the indictments both the day of the announcement (expected at 2 pm local time July 14) and the following day. There was a small and peaceful, apparently impromptu demonstration July 13 at midday which moved from the bus stop north of the chancery toward the Presidency. Sudanese press July 13 highlighted statements by Sudan's ambassador to the Arab League (which will hold an emergency session regarding the indictments) and the African Union Peace and Security Council rejecting the indictments. President Bashir will lead an emergency meeting of his Cabinet the afternoon of July 13 to review possible responses to the indictments. First Vice President Salva Kiir flew from Juba to Khartoum July 13 to attend the meeting. ¶3. (SBU) In anticipation of possible strong reactions by the regime against the UN (UNSCR 1593 instructs the ICC to investigate war crimes in Darfur),UNAMID has evacuated all non-essential civilian staff from Darfur and moved to level IV security. In Khartoum, UNMIS raised its security level from II to III and has evacuated some non-essential civilian staff and told staff who are on leave to delay their return by several days. Non-peacekeeping UN agencies such as UNDP and WFP have been told to evacuate their families, and non-essential staff at these agencies have been evacuated. (Note: UNMIS and UNAMID staff are not supposed to have family members in country and those that do, against UN guidance, have been asked to remove their families. End note.) A/SYG Jane Holl-Lute arrived in Khartoum July 12 ostensibly to cover for SRSG Qazi (who is on leave due to a family medical emergency) but senior UN staff indicated that she is also here in case a major evacuation of UN personnel is required. UNMIS headquarters in Khartoum is prepared to lodge on an emergency basis all 1000 UN civilian staff that remain in town, if required. UNMIS also established an alternate command center in Juba (which immediately prompted false rumors that UNMIS was planning to move all operations to Juba). ¶4. (SBU) Other western Embassies in Khartoum have essentially mirrored the security arrangements and posture of the U.S. Embassy (reftel). Non-essential TDY visitors have been evacuated or told to delay their arrival, staff on leave have been encouraged to extend their leave by several days, and operations will be at a minimum July 14 and possibly July 15. ¶5. (U) There are currently 66 official Americans in Khartoum and 14 official Americans in Juba. There are no official Americans in Darfur. The Khartoum airport remains open and some seats on commercial flights are available although the number of available seats is declining rapidly, according to our travel agent. There are 350 MREs at the Embassy chancery, 168 MREs at USAID, and 45 MREs at the RAO annex. There are 540 liters of bottled water at the chancery, 540 liters at USAID, and 100 liters at the RAO annex. There is a 96-hour supply of generator fuel at the chancery, a 72-hour supply at the RAO annex, and a 72-hour supply at the USAID annex. RSO distributed safe haven kits to staff July 11 - 13. The Embassy received and immediately put into use 9 additional armored vehicles July 10, which had been ordered by Embassy Khartoum in September 2007. The MFA has not yet provided non-diplomatic plates but is working with the police to obtain them (and requested that we not read anything into the delay). ¶6. (U) CDA held a comprehensive town hall meeting July 13 with all American staff and later held a meeting with the FSN committee. CDA provided an overview of the political situation, reviewed operations for the next two days, answered questions, and urged anyone with private concerns to see him or section/agency heads. RSO and MGT discussed security procedures, preparations and operations anticipated over the next few days. The EAC met again following the town hall (septel) to finalize preparation regarding staffing for July 14 (minimum core staff only). FERNANDEZ