PROGRESS ON SPLA DEFENSE WHITE PAPER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000315 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, AND AF/RSA NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS KDEM EAID MARR SU SUBJECT: PROGRESS ON SPLA DEFENSE WHITE PAPER ¶1. (SBU) Responding to a request from SE Williamson during his visit to Juba, SPLA Defense White Paper Committee Chairman Kuol Diem Kuol told ConGen PolOff March 1 that he expected the paper to be completed by March 7 and issued via Presidential Order shortly thereafter. According to Kuol, GOSS President Kiir himself told the Southern Sudan Defense Council (SSDC) to have the paper ready by Wednesday, March 5. In order to meet this deadline, Kiir called an extraordinary session of the SSDC for March 3 dedicated solely to discussion of the paper, and scheduled an extraordinary session of the GOSS Council of Ministers on March 4 to review the final draft. ¶2. (SBU) Kuol said GOSS President Kiir is "extremely pleased" by progress on the White Paper. Vice President Machar, and other ministerial members of the Council worked on the draft paper throughout March 1 so that GOSS Minister for Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Michael Mikuei could review the draft's compliance with the Interim National Constitution and Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan on March 2. ¶3. (SBU) Following the Presidential Order, the SPLA will establish a series of implementation committees to assist with and ensure the SPLA's transformation. Kuol said U.S. advisors would be welcome to serve on these committees. Post will follow-up with SPLA Chief of Staff General Oyai Deng on the matter following Minister Makuei's clearance on the draft. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: The SPLA Defense White Paper, begun in March 2007 but unveiled to SPLA allies and "security sector stakeholders" alike at a GOSS-wide conference in Juba in September 2007, has received only limited civilian vetting so far. While Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) MP and vocal proponent of SPLA reform Peter Bashir Bendi participated in the recent Addis Ababa-based drafting round (attended by U.S. military advisors seconded to the SPLA, in addition to select members of the USG-funded SST Training and Advisory Team),President Kiir did not follow through on his pledge to appoint five civilian members to the White Paper Committee, and that, coupled with the paper's promulgation via Presidential Order, could irritate the GOSS Legislative Assembly. While Kiir's action is necessitated by USG funding constraints (the SSLA does not reconvene until April),GOSS credibility would be greatly safeguarded by a robust and detailed description of forthcoming deliverables once the SPLA White Paper is officially adopted. Having responded to SE Williamson's request that the White Paper be completed within two weeks, the GoSS hopes the USG will respond to their efforts with increases in U.S. security- sector assistance. They will likely be disappointed if this is not forthcoming. FERNANDEZ