KHARTOUM SECURITY MILESTONES - JUNE 2007 TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000183 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF PDAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD, AF/SPG, AF/EX, OBO, DS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2012 TAGS: ABLD AMGT ASEC PREL PTER US SU SUBJECT: KHARTOUM SECURITY MILESTONES - JUNE 2007 TO JANUARY 2008 Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) This cable provides a summary of security-related actions and events affecting the US Mission in Sudan during a specific timeframe. It gathers references to numerous cables and messages on various related issues including OBO issues, EAC actions, Sudanese Government actions, terrorism, RSO and COM requests for security enhancements at post and others. While comprehensive, it is not an exhaustive catalogue of all such events at post during this six month period. It seeks to serve as a ready reference for Washington's benefit to help in the implementation of DS and OBO connected initiatives in Sudan. It generally does not refer to numerous instances of support and assistance rendered - for which post is very grateful - by Washington elements, including DS and OBO, but focuses mostly on events on the ground in Sudan. ¶2. (C) EMBASSY KHARTOUM SECURITY MILESTONES: -- June 11, 2007 - Sudanese Government (MFA and Governor of Khartoum State) officially notify newly arrived Charge that Sudan will re-open street in front of the Chancery to vehicular traffic in response to new U.S. sanctions imposed on May 29, 2007. Sudanese ask Embassy to work with Sudanese Intelligence (NISS) to open the street as soon as possible. This would reduce the Chancery's tenuous setback to zero (07 Khartoum 925). -- June 14, 2007 - Embassy develops back-up plan to evacuate the Chancery in case of street opening. Plan would entail moving Chancery staff to other USG buildings scattered through the city. Embassy also develops and sends a bogus diplomatic note for the Sudanese offering illusory concessions while maintaining setback in order to gain time (07 Khartoum 947). -- July 18, 2007 - Embassy response to OBO request for update on NEC construction in the wake of the Sudanese blocking NEC shipping containers after the May 29 sanctions announcement. Sudanese agree to "waive a requirement that detailed building plans of the NEC be provided in order to obtain a building permit" (actually, the permit was never granted despite the MFA's assurances) but refuse to budge on the containers claiming it is a "political issue" decided at the highest levels of the GOS (07 Khartoum 1120). -- August 1, 2007 - After repeated appeals for weeks by CDA, DCM and RAO to various senior officials, Sudanese agree to "let sleeping dogs lie" and not open the Ali Abdel Latif Street in front of Chancery (07 Khartoum 1196). -- August 6, 2007 - New RSO arrives. -- August 19, 2007 - Sudanese brief Embassy about uncovered Al-Qa'ida-inspired plot targeting the US, UK, and French embassies, UNMIS HQ, Sudanese officials and other sites in Khartoum. Embassy suspends all TDY travel to Khartoum until September 15 "as a precautionary measure to lower US official profile in Khartoum" (07 Khartoum 1298, 07 Khartoum 1306). -- August 20, 2007 - RSO Hunt requests DS/DEAV order 11 new armored vehicles for Embassy Khartoum. DS/CFO obligates money for the purchase (Hunt-Munoz email). -- August 21, 2007 - Embassy update on NEC containers obstruction. Embassy recommendations that the issue be raised during the late August visit of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Al-Samani al-Wasila to Washington, the first visit by a senior Sudanese official to Washington in a year. Washington raises the issue with the Minister but the problems are not solved (07 Khartoum 1313). -- September 11, 2007 - DCM and RSO call on Director of Khartoum Police Director General Saad to request closer cooperation on mission security issues (07 Khartoum 1430). -- September 13, 2007 - DS/DEAV confirms armored vehicle order. DEAV informs RSO that they are shipping a stock armored vehicle immediately to post. Vehicle has not yet arrived in Sudan (Walker-Hunt email). -- September 19, 2007 - Embassy requests increase of Surveillance Detection Unit to 22 (07 Khartoum 1474) -- October 8, 2007 - Embassy response to query by OBO Director Williams in which Embassy recommends that visiting Sudanese Finance Minister, who is blocking containers, meet with Washington officials. The Minister meets with NSC and U/S for Management Henrietta Fore but the problems are unresolved (07 Khartoum 1558) -- October 9, 2007 - EAC recommends withdrawal of all USG personnel out of Darfur due to rising security concerns as a result of the upcoming October 27 peace talks in Libya. COM agrees to the withdrawal (07 Khartoum 1584). -- November 1, 2007 - EAC authorizes return to Darfur but asks for Washington help with Darfur medevac and airlift issues in case of emergency (07 Khartoum 1698). -- November 4, 2007 - Reduction in Residential Guard coverage due to LGP staffing and funding shortage, due to FY 2008 Continuing Resolution (07 Khartoum 1710) -- November 18, 2007 - Embassy outlines an "interim path forward" if the NEC is definitively blocked. Cable notes that all USG facilities in Sudan (Khartoum, Juba and Darfur) are sub-standard, Chancery has no setback and that both staffing and program levels would have to be reconsidered if construction is definitively halted. Cable asks "what interim measures, if any, can be taken to mitigate risks in the near future. In short, neither "business as usual" nor any expansion may be feasible if the new chancery is not completed" (07 Khartoum 1788). -- November 22, 2007 - Embassy requests more staff for 24/7 LGF coverage and reorganization of guard force and new leadership slots. RSO also requests a residential security coordinator, consolidation of guards in Darfur into the program and guards for Juba IOB SD team. Cable also requests $40,000 to seed residential security program (07 Khartoum 1833). -- November 28, 2007 - EAC agrees to request from Washington and the Sudanese MFA that selected Sudanese LGF be armed in the absence of MSG. Diplomatic note requesting this is sent to the Sudanese Foreign Ministry (07 Khartoum 1867). -- December 3, 2007 - CDA, in a first person cable, outlines the threat level and administrative challenges of RSO Khartoum in great detail and requests an upgrade for RSO, a D/RSO for Khartoum, a second A/RSO for Khartoum and movement on RSO Juba. Cable also requests 2 TDY to support post until positions are filled (07 Khartoum 1905). -- December 31, 2007 - EAC notes increased tension in Darfur and limits personnel there to critical needs, no additional TDYs allowed (07 Khartoum 2070). -- December 31, 2007 - Post requests update on Local Guard Force and Surveillance Detection Unit request (07 Khartoum 2071). -- January 1, 2008 - Embassy employees from USAID murdered in Khartoum by unknown assailants. EAC imposes curfew on all staff and limits travel to armored vehicles only (08 Khartoum 01). -- January 7, 2008 - EAC modifies 7 am to 7 PM curfew to allow armored vehicle travel to other USG facilities or homes. State informed of USAID airlift of additional armored vehicles (08 Khartoum 23) -- January 9, 2008 - EAC decides on end to curfew limits but maintains armored vehicle only travel. EAC restates request for 24/7 static residential guards (08 Khartoum 34). -- January 14, 2008 - Embassy recommendations for security, personnel and administrative changes in the wake of the January 1, 2008 tragedy, including expedited shipping of armored vehicles (DCM Powers email and 08 Khartoum 88). -- January 26, 2008 - Consulate Juba request for actions to improve current security posture is provided in a front channel cable (08 Khartoum 113). -- February 1, 2008 - Four new DS expedited armored vehicles arrive in Sudan, clear customs in record time and are put into service on February 4, 2008. FERNANDEZ