SE WILLIAMSON MEETING WITH SLM/MM LEADERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001211 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SE WILLIAMSON MEETING WITH SLM/MM LEADERS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On August 9, senior leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM/MM) told Special Envoy Williamson that the Darfur Peace Agreement remains in a state of neglect. SLM/MM leaders also criticized UNAMID, President Bashir's vague Darfur initiative, and the show of support for President Bashir following his potential indictment by the ICC. END SUMMARY. STATUS OF DPA - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) Special Envoy Williamson opened the meeting by saying he recognizes Minni Minnawi's leadership and patience under extremely difficult circumstances. Muhammad Al-Tijani, the head of the DPA Implementation committee and leader of the meeting in Minnawi's absence, thanked Williamson and then stated DPA remains in the same state as it was during the SE's last visit to Sudan in May. "If anything, things are getting worse, not better," noted Tijani. Tijani praised Minnawi, saying that he has shown patience and self-constraint during a very frustrating period. ¶3. (SBU) SLM/MM Legal advisor Abdul Aziz Sam stated that over two years since its adoption, the DPA still has not been legally incorporated into the Sudanese constitution. According to Sam, the DPA is now neither constitutionally binding, nor used as a resource for future consultations. He stated that the "undeclared state of emergency" following the May 10 JEM attack on Omdurman continues, as Zaghawa and other Darfuri tribes continue to suffer from unwarranted harassment, detention, and persecution. Dr. Adam Khatir Sam added that the security protocols of the DPA should be the backbone of the DPA, but noted that the joint committee and the ceasefire commission are two key institutions of the security protocol that are non-functioning. Muhammad Tijani said that the GoS is now forming its own security arrangements in South Darfur, as an attempt to undermine SLM/MM and build up pro-government SLM/MM factions. (NOTE: Prior to the meeting SLM/MM Vice-Chairman Dr. Rayah Mahmoud called poloff complaining that he had not invited to attend. Poloff informed Rayah that Minnawi personally selected the meeting's representatives. Rayah stated that he would go to the press on August 9 and say, "I will tell them that the U.S. is trying to divide SLM/MM by not inviting the vice-chairman in Minnawi's absence." Omar Suliman Dahiya (often mentioned as a representative of this rival faction,) attended the meeting without an invitation, to which Bushara Hassan stated, "There is not much we could do but accept his presence." END NOTE). RELATIONSHIP WITH UNAMID - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) According to Tijani the SLM/MM's disappointment with UNAMID continues. He said the hybrid force is "doing nothing" and "is a big failure like the African Union." Tijani said that within the last six months UNAMID has lost most of its staff with historical knowledge of the conflict, with the DPA, and relationships with SLM/MM leaders. Muhammad Suliman added that UNAMID is authorized to support the DPA in resolution 1769, but regular UNAMID meetings at the DPA implementation office have stopped. Dr. Adam Khatir Sam stated that the international community should take the practical steps necessary to provide UNAMID with the appropriate level of force and technical capacity. SE Williamson promised that he would raise these concerns with UNAMID leadership in El-Fasher and UNDPKO in New York. Later in the meeting SLM/MM leaders stated that they have met with new UN/AU Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole and his chief of staff several times since his appointment. BASHIR'S DARFUR INITIATIVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) CDA Fernandez asked for SLM/MM representatives' opinion of President Bashir's widely publicized Darfur initiative. Muhammad Bashir said that President Bashir is using the initiative to rally political opposition parties, and that Bashir never consulted SLM/MM prior to his announcement. He added that the government continues to try to divide SLM/MM as it publicizes this vague initiative, which may result in an alternate agreement to the DPA. Muhammad Tijani stated that the initiative is just a reaction to the ICC proceedings, a "political show", and not a good will effort. SLM/MM leaders opined that other political parties proposing initiatives for Darfur have failed to consult SLM/MM before making their announcements. ICC - - - ¶6. (SBU) SLM/MM leaders stated that Sudanese opposition parties' disapproval of the ICC proceedings against President Bashir should not be interpreted as the opinion of the people of Darfur. Adam KHARTOUM 00001211 002 OF 002 Abdul Rahman emphasized that it is impossible to speak freely in Sudan, and any statements in favor of Bashir should be interpreted in this context. Abdul Aziz Sam added that it is dangerous not to support the government, as was proven by Hassan Al-Turabi's detention following the JEM attacks. He added that other African heads of state are also being indicted by the ICC and therefore have thrown their support behind President Bashir. ¶7. (SBU) SE Williamson stated that the U.S. will continue to make alleviating humanitarian suffering its top priority in Sudan. He added that although UNAMID has been imperfect and that the U.S. shares SLM/MM's views on UNAMID's slow progress, he is nevertheless hopeful that the new Undersecretary for Field Operations will be able to achieve tangible results in the coming months. Williamson stated that both U.S. presidential candidates, Senators McCain and Obama, have been very outspoken on Darfur, and that though there will be a change in administration, the next president's commitment to the people of Sudan will remain. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (SBU) - Adam Khatir Sam - TDRA Consultant - Muhammad Suliman - Ex-Secretary General TDRA - Adam Abdulllah Adam - Land Commissioner TDRA - Muhammad Tijani - Head of DPA Implementation committee - Abdul Aziz Sam - TDRA Legal Consultant - Muhammad Bashir - Minnawi's chief of staff - Bushara Hassan - TDRA/SLM Capacity Building Manager - Omar Suliman Dahia - (Unexpected representative, allegedly affiliated to SLM/MM faction of Dr. Rayah Mahmoud.) ¶9. (U) SE Williamson cleared this cable prior to transmission. FERNANDEZ