KIDNAPPING OF CHINESE OIL WORKERS IN SOUTH KORDOFAN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001550 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/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: KIDNAPPING OF CHINESE OIL WORKERS IN SOUTH KORDOFAN REF: A) 2007 KHARTOUM 1664 ¶1. (SBU) A political officer at the Chinese Embassy in Khartoum confirmed to poloff on October 20 that nine (9) Greater Nile Petroleum Workers were kidnapped on October 18 at approximately noon by "an unknown armed group" in South Kordofan State. The Chinese official could not confirm the involvement of the Justice and Equality Movement. According to this source, a Sudanese driver was later released, but the nine Chinese employees are still being held. Representatives from the Chinese embassy are traveling to the region now to address the situation. ¶2. (SBU) Also on October 20, Hassan Subahi, a representative of Misseriya tribe from the Owlad Amran clan predominant in the area of the attack spoke to poloff. Subahi stated that he was not sure whether the attack was committed by members of his tribe or another group. Contrary to information from the Chinese Embassy, Subahi stated that 6 Chinese and 3 Sudanese were kidnapped. Subahi said that there are two hostile groups working in their area, one led by a man named "Rizeigi" from the Owlad Amran clan and another led by "Fadeel" from the Owlad Kamil. Subahi stated that he was not sure which group was responsible for the attack, but downplayed the group's significance saying, "these are local actors that are not that tied to JEM leadership." Subahi stated that the local population's frustration with the oil companies' reckless operations and the industry's failure to benefit their community may have inspired the attack. He also said that in past kidnappings, foreign oil companies may have secretly paid ransom money to kidnappers, essentially encouraging repeated attacks. ¶3. (SBU) On October 19, the Governor of South Kordofan Umar Suleiman Adam told CDA Fernandez that a JEM faction led led by "Fadeel" is responsible for this attack. The Governor claimed that the group only consists of seven men and is more a group of bandits than a rebel movement. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: This is not the first time that oil facilities have been targeted in Sudan. The Defra oil field was attacked by JEM in October (reftel) and December 2007 and followed by attacks on Indian facilities in July 2008. Post will continue to follow this event as it unfolds. END COMMENT. FERNANDEZ