CLASHES CONTINUE IN WEST DARFUR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000064

SIPDIS

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

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO KSEC SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: CLASHES CONTINUE IN WEST DARFUR

REF: KHARTOUM 35


1. (SBU) Summary: Heavy clashes in West Darfur continued January 13
- 15, with confirmed GOS aerial attacks on JEM rebel positions.
There were also additional reports of Chadian aerial incursions into
Sudan. End summary.


2. (SBU) During discussions with poloff January 15, UNAMID contacts
confirmed reports that the Government of Sudan (GOS) conducted
aerial attacks 40 kilometers northwest of Geneina against JEM rebel
targets in Abu Soruj and Sirf Jaj on January 13 and 14. According
to UNAMID contacts, a confrontation on the ground between the two
forces is "imminent." INGO Concern's Country Director Janardhan
Rao, who is based in Geneina, told poloff that JEM has taken control
of Salea and Kulbus and has surrounded Geneina.


3. (SBU) Media reported on January 15 that Members of Parliament
questioned Minister of Defense LTG Abd-al-Rahim Muhammad Hussein
about reports of Chad aerial attacks in Sudan in a closed door
session at the National Assembly on January 14. MPs reportedly
described Hussein's response as disappointing because he would not
conclusively state if Chadian troops or airplanes were operating in
Sudan or not. Embassy contacts have reported that Chadian aircraft
attacked Chadian rebels in Sudan about five kilometers outside of
Geneina (Reftel).


4. (SBU) Several JEM/KI spokesmen told FieldOffs January 14 that the
major problem in West Darfur is the "huge" presence of Chadian
rebels. JEM/KI says the Geneina Hospital is full of Chadian rebels
and Geneina market is packed with their vehicles. JEM/KI claimed
that the Chadian government recently bombed them by air in Wadi
Rati, 13 kilometers from El Geneina, thinking they were Chadian
rebels. They take seriously Chadian President Deby's threats that
he plans to declare war on Sudan and fight the Chadian rebels in
Sudan. Despite Chadian efforts, JEM/KI told FieldOff that Chadian
rebel forces from Mahamat Nouri and Timan Eridimi have reconstituted
themselves after having been nearly destroyed by Chadian forces.


5. (SBU) Concern Country Director Janardhan Rao told poloff on
January 15 that Concern has been told by the GOS that the areas
surrounding the towns of Kulbus and Salea are unsafe for
humanitarian operations. Rao said that Concern has accepted GOS'
warnings at face value and has suspended its nutrition,
water/sanitation, and health programs, which provide services to
24,000 people. Emilia Casella, spokeswoman for the U.N.'s World
Food Program (WFP),told the media January 15 that "all the roads
around el Geneina are no-go areas right now," adding that she
estimated that 160,000 people do not have access to food due to the
security situation.


6. (SBU) Comment: Though Chad and Sudan have apparently increased
attacks on each other via rebel groups in each others territories,
for now they have stopped short of declaring war or breaking off
diplomatic relations. Neither country has the capacity to restore
security to the border area, and in the absence of peacekeeping
forces to closely monitor the situation, international NGOs remain
the best source of information. If attacks persist, NGOs in Geneina
may be forced to curtail their operations even further.

FERNANDEZ