NCP LEADER TOES THE PARTY LINE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000390 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: NCP LEADER TOES THE PARTY LINE ¶1. (SBU) On Sunday, March 16, CDA Fernandez met with Retired Maj. Gen. Al Fatih Abdoun (and former Governor of Khartoum) in his Khartoum home. Known as a flexible and moderate leader, Abdoun assisted in creating the military support that brought President Al- Bashir to power in his 1989 coup. Abdoun is now a member of the Shura (Advisory) council within the National Congress Party, and claims influence with Al-Bashir and the upper cadre of Sudanese leaders. ¶2. (SBU) During the 90-minute meeting, Abdoun repeatedly brought up the subject of improved relations with the United States. He said any agreement would require a balance of Sudanese and American demands, but also acknowledged that the time frame for any agreement was running short. Abdoun described Sudan's leadership as "terrified" of changes a new administration might bring in U.S.-Sudanese relations, as anything signed today may be reversed in ¶2009. Abdoun claimed that Sudan will accept any measures required by the U.S., provided they preserve Sudan's sovereignty and religion. CDA countered that the U.S. has no interest in interfering with religion in Sudan. ¶3. (SBU) Abdoun hewed very closely to the National Congress Party's public line. Darfur rebel Abdul Wahid Nur is "no longer Sudanese" but the puppet of foreign powers, including Israel. Rebels in Darfur are "terrorists" and their actions anywhere else would be condemned by the U.S. Sudan's human rights record is better than that of most of its neighbors and most regimes in the Arab world (the majority of which are allies of the US). IDPs in Darfur have nothing to complain about. The NCP is the best government in Sudanese history (this may be true but there is not much competition) and has provided unusually good government to the Sudanese people. Sudan is categorically not helping Chadian rebels at all in their efforts to overthrow President Deby. ¶4. (SBU) Retired Maj. Gen. Abdoun offered insight into the mindset of Sudan's old guard, expressing nostalgia for a mythic past positive of U.S.-Sudan relations while expressing an impossibly rosy view of Sudan's actions and history. Yet while Abdoun has pledged to speak to current NCP leaders, including the president, his influence is most likely quite limited. While Abdoun, not surprisingly, refused to express any criticism of a regime he helped create, he did admit that Sudan has done a terrible job of presenting its views and reality to the outside world, "a plan was presented to them, but they didn't move on it." FERNANDEZ