Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KHARTOUM539
2008-04-07 14:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

POSSIBLE "POLIITICAL ASSASSINATION" IN EL-FASHER

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM SU KPKO UNSC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5350
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0539 0981437
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071437Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0495
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0144
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

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