Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KHARTOUM400
2008-03-17 12:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

SPLA - DEFENSE WHITE PAPER

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6897
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0400 0771234
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171234Z MAR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0243
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000400 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: SPLA - DEFENSE WHITE PAPER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000400

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: SPLA - DEFENSE WHITE PAPER


1. (SBU) At the beginning of last week, President Salva Kiir finally
signed the Defense White Paper (DWP). At this point the DWP has
been reviewed and approved by the SPLA military leadership, the GOSS
Defense Council, the GOSS Council of Ministers (cabinet equivalent)
and the President. The President's original intent was to issue a
written Presidential Proclamation approving the DWP after it was
approved by the Council of Ministers. His legal advisors have
advised him that a Proclamation would not be appropriate for a
matter of policy such as the DWP. Based on this advice, he signed
the DWP, but has not issued a Presidential Proclamation. As result,
the DWP has not been released or distributed yet. The next step in
the approval process is for the DWP to be reviewed and voted on by
the GOSS Parliament which reconvenes on 1 April.


2. (SBU) Comment: In the interim, The SPLA senior leadership,
including the Chier of Staff Lt Gen Oyay Deng, has recommended to
the President that he release the DWP in its current form as a
pre-decisional draft to key partners such as the U.S. This would
allow the U.S. and other partners to move forward in their planning
to support SPLA transformation. This has not happened yet; however
we continue monitor this on a daily basis and will get a copy as
soon as possible.

FERNANDEZ