POSSIBLE "POLIITICAL ASSASSINATION" IN EL-FASHER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000539 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF S/E WILLIAMSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR, AND ALSO PASS USAID SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SU KPKO UNSC SUBJECT: POSSIBLE "POLIITICAL ASSASSINATION" IN EL-FASHER REF: KHARTOUM 503 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 4 at approximately 20:00 gunmen allegedly affiliated with the janjaweed Border Intelligence Unit shot and killed Suliman Ishaq Korayna Daoud, a member of the Darfur Forum and leader of the SLA-Peace Wing (former rebel group which threw in its lot with the Khartoum regime),outside of his home. Many observers call this murder a "political assassination," though the exact motive for this attack remains unclear. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On April 4, Suliman Ishaq Korayna Daoud was shot and killed outside of his home in El Fasher, North Darfur. United Nations Department of Safety and Security confirm this attack occurred "near the El Fasher Civil Hospital by an unknown gunman." On April 5, Khalil Tukras, a prominent El-Fasher lawyer, former NGO leader, and a close friend of Daoud's, told emboff that Daoud was a member of the Darfur Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, a member of the SLA-Peace Wing, and former director of the Darfur Rehabilitation and Resettlement Commission. ¶3. (SBU) According to Tukras, two members of the Border Intelligence Unit (yQ1X\Qacontacted and immediately began the investigation the morning of April 5. Tukras stated that the police retraced the attackers' footprints in the sand to the BIU guards' compound. When the police approached their compound, they were fired upon by border guard members and eventually retreated, reported Tukras. ¶4. (SBU) Tukras stated that he learned this information after spending most of the day with the deceased's family, friends, and colleagues. He stated that he was present when the Wali (governor) of North Darfur Osman Yousif Kibir came to Daoud's house (accompanied by several other senior politicians including the Minister of Religious Affairs). According to Tukras, Kibir apologized to Daoud's family and friends for the actions of this government security organization, but Daoud's family gave the Wali a cold reception ("not even offering him a glaspQYQ\zac!9old the Wali that "We need justice. If you don't do it your way, we'll do it our way," hinting that Daoud's family, friends, and extended political and tribal network would resort to violence. ¶5. (SBU) Tukras stated that "there has to be a political motivation for this crime," emphasizing that "you can't believe they killed him just for a mobile phone." Tukras stated that many leaders of El-Fasher's African tribes present at Daoud's home already started to discuss an alliance of African tribes directed against the Arab militias and janjaweed integrated into the government's security structures. ¶6. (SBU) On April 6, Ahmed Bahr, a member of the North Darfur legislature, confirmed to Emboff the basic details of the attack, including: the participation of the members of the Border Intelligence Unit (whom he also called "the government's janjaweed"); Daoud's positions in political organizations; and the likelihood that this was "politically motivated as he was very outspoken against the government, always telling the truth." ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Many of the details of this event remain unclear. Nonetheless, the identity of the victim, his affiliations, and the basic details of the attack point to a political assassination, which has outraged many in El Fasher. This violence, allegedly committed by janjaweed integrated into the government's security structures, may be part of a larger trend of an upsurge in janjaweed violence in El-Fasher in the last week that includes clashes between Arab militias and SLM-Minnawi (reftel). Retaliation by African tribes against Arabs considered responsible for this incident or others of the past week are not out of the realm of possibility. FERNANDEZ