AEC PLENARY ADDRESSES DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001499 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON 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: AEC PLENARY ADDRESSES DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, AND REINTEGRATION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 7, the Assessment and Evaluation Commission's (AEC) monthly plenary session focused on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR). A/CDA Asquino attended the meeting for the U.S. Prior to a lengthy presentation by an UNMIS DDR expert, AEC Chairman Derek Plumbly gave a report on his recent travels to South Sudan, the AEC's operating budget, and the latest agreement on the composition of Abyei's interim administration. END SUMMARY. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (U) Ambassador Plumbly opened by stating that he had spent part of September visiting areas of the south in "an attempt to take the mid-term evaluation beyond these walls." Plumbly visited Malakal, Rumbek, Bor, and Juba to survey Southern Sudanese views on CPA implementation. He said there were a number of reoccurring themes emerging from the visit. First, South Sudan's state constitutions need support. Second, communities near oil production areas voiced concern about the industry's environmental impact and the lack of consultation with local communities. Third, Plumbly noted that joint integrated units (JIUs) of SPLA and SAF troops need immediate attention in many areas. Plumbly stated that in Bor there is absolutely no "joint-ness" in the JIUs, and that in other areas such as Malakal there is a complete lack of logistical support for these units. ¶3. (U) Plumbly also reported that he reached out to many institutions established by the CPA in September, including: the Commission for the Rights of Non-Muslims; the National Civil Service Commission; and the DDR commissions in North and South Sudan. Plumbly emphasized the importance of these often neglected, but very important, commissions. DDR PRESENTATION - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (U) The majority of the meeting was then taken by a presentation from UNMIS DDR Expert, Mr. Adrian Verheul Chief of UNMIS's Integration. Verheul stated that on December 31, 2008, UNMIS will end its interim programming (focusing on DDR institution building) and begin its actual DDR programming on a test-basis in Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Verheul emphasized that additional funding is needed for this work, and that UNMIS will call a meeting designed to be "more than just a pledging conference, as we need more than just funds, but also stronger partnerships and structured dialogue." Verheul estimated that DDR activities will require approximately 430 million USD over the next three to four years. Verheul stressed that Sudan's DDR program will be "the largest DDR program on the planet," that it is part of the political process, and that it requires the commitment and trust of all parties involved. (Note: The AEC distributed a one-page "Briefing Note on DDR." This document will be sent to AF/SPG and the Office of the Special Envoy. End Note.) ¶5. (U) The SPLM's Angelina Teny responded that DDR programming should have started two years ago, and that there are no guarantees that the work will succeed. Verhuel agreed that, ideally, DDR work should have started earlier, but then outlined the practical impediments that had made this impossible. A/CDA Asquino stated that the U.S. was pleased that South Kordofan had been selected as one of the two areas chosen for DDR programming on a test basis. Thousands of ethnic-Nuba SPLA soldiers remain disconnected from the state government in South Kordofan, and have not been redeployed primarily because they are from the Nuba Mountains and do not wish to leave their homes. He commended Verheul for emphasizing that "development" must be a part of DDR. Asquino said that in South Kordofan, the Nuba people are very much concerned with such development issues as property rights, and such problems must also be weighed during the DDR process. The UK's Ambassador welcomed the gradual approach of the pilot DDR program, while the NCP representative expressed concern about the potential for a lack of cooperation from local authorities in South Sudan and the sensitivities involved in weapons collection. To the latter point, Verheul clarified that DDR is not a weapons collection program "as disarmament takes place in the barracks" and this program differs significantly from civilian disarmament. ABYEI, ELECTIONS, AND FOREIGN RESERVES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (U) Chairman Plumbly said that the reported appointment of an interim administration for Abyei and a secretary general for the region's Unity Fund are "crucial" steps for stability in the region. NCP representatives confirmed news reports and stated that there is agreement between the SPLM and NCP on the "full composition" of Abyei's administration. With respect to planning for the 2009 KHARTOUM 00001499 002 OF 002 mid-term elections, the Italian Ambassador (and chair of the Power Sharing Working Group) stated that there has "been no significant progress." A/CDA Asquino also urged the parties to agree promptly on the membership of the National Election Commission so that body can begin its important work. ¶7. At the conclusion of the meeting, working group coordinators presented their recent activities and plans for future work. On behalf of the Wealth Sharing Working Group (chaired by the U.S.,) A/CDA Asquino stated that in the coming weeks the group would prioritize issues of transparency in oil revenues and the oil industry's environmental impact, as topics for future meetings. The NCP representative responded by saying that the Wealth Sharing Group should also address the refusal of the National Bank of Sudan's affiliate in Juba to return foreign reserves to the central National Bank in Khartoum. He emphasized that this was required under the terms of the CPA. Asquino responded that the Wealth Sharing Group was aware of the problem; if requested the group certainly was prepared to offer technical advice and assistance to both sides in the dispute. He added, however, that he understood senior National Bank of Sudan officials in Khartoum were discussing the issue, and believed the best outcome would be for them to find an amicable solution. ¶8. Chairman Plumbly ended the meeting delivering a copy of the AEC's budget (which will be forwarded to AF/SPG,) and thanked the U.S. for its contributions to the organization. COMMENT: - - - - - ¶9. (SBU) The October 7 plenary demonstrated just how far the AEC has come in the last year. Two representatives from both the SPLM and NCP, all international members, and a room full of observers packed the meeting. Rather than bickering, as had sometimes been the case during past meetings, the NCP and SPLM both provided constructive input and appeared to move closer to working in the spirit of the CPA. Movement forward on Abyei certainly contributed to the meeting's collegial atmosphere of cooperation. While this in itself is cause for guarded optimism, no one should doubt that much hard work remains for the GNU's major partners in the challenging months ahead. ¶8. (SBU) Post will forward the minutes for the 36th AEC Plenary Session to AF/SPG and the Office of the Special Envoy. ASQUINO