MINAWI CONTEMPLATES VISIT TO WASHINGTON: ASKS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001819 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, S/E WILLIAMSON, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO UN AU SU SUBJECT: MINAWI CONTEMPLATES VISIT TO WASHINGTON: ASKS FOR GUIDANCE REF: KHARTOUM 1689 Classified By: A/CDA Mark Asquino, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a meeting with a visiting Senate Staffdel December 16, SLM leader, DPA signatory and Senior Presidential Assistant Minni Minawi said he is considering a visit to Washington "soon after the New Year." Minawi asked for guidance on what dates would be best and asked which officials he might be able to meet. He said he planned to take a delegation of approximately ten SLM officials with him. Embassy Khartoum encourages this visit, although we cautioned Minnawi to provide realistic expectations on the level of USG meetings possible. Paragraph 5 provides suggestions on possible messages that would be useful in moving Minawi's thinking forward. ¶2. (C) Minawi said that neither Qatari officials nor UN/AU Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole have been in contact with him since his last meeting with Bassole in El Fasher one month ago. Minnawi expressed frustration that his views on the Darfur peace process are not being taken into account. He said that the NCP has not been in contact with him since the Sudan People's Initiative and none of the agreements made with Vice President Taha in El Fasher has been honored. No money has been deposited to the TDRA and no progress has been made on legislation to incorporate additional SLM elements into the civil service. ¶3. (C) Minawi seemed more frustrated and tired than we have seen him in recent memory. He met us wearing a track suit (not necessarily unusual,) but appeared more frail and less focused than normal. An overflowing ashtray of CIGARETTE butts indicated heavy smoking, although he refrained from lighting-up during our meeting. (Note: There have been ongoing reports that Minawi is ill, but post does not have precise information on the nature of his illness. End note.) He had just returned from a visit to Libya where he "got nothing" and did not meet with Qadafi. Minawi said he planned to travel to Eritrea on December 17 or 18 (presumably to discuss support for his movement.) Minawi discounted that JEM had crossed the border from Chad into Darfur with 300 vehicles, saying this was "government propaganda," although he did not discount JEM's strength in the field. ¶4. (C) With frustration apparent in his voice, Minawi asked "What is US policy on the DPA?" A/CDA and polchief replied that we view the DPA as the foundation for any future agreement and asked Minawi what elements of the DPA he viewed as critical, and what would he like to get out of peace talks in Doha, if and when they occur. Minawi avoided the questions entirely and reverted back to asking for guidance on US and international community views on the DPA and its lack of implementation. ¶5. (C) Comment: It was apparent from this meeting that Minawi feels cut off from current Darfur peace discussions. Post suggests that the US should encourage Bassole and the Qataris to consult with Minawi on his expectations for the Doha process. Post believes that if Minnawi decides to go to Washington (he said he would get back to post,) arranging meetings for him could be constructive. It would demonstrate that the USG continues to support Minawi as the sole signatory of the DPA. At the same time, it would allow Minawi to hear precisely where the US stands on the DPA, and abe provide the opportunity to encourage him to define clearly what he wants out of the next phase of the Darfur peace process. As reported in reftel, post believes that we need to encourage Minawi to move beyond the DPA and begin to define what he wants from a future (hopefully more comprehensive and inclusive) agreement. His focus should be on identifying what parts of the DPA must be included in the next agreement, and what he wants for himself and his movement in a future power-sharing arrangement. End comment. ASQUINO