SOUTH DARFUR FIGHTING TAKES NEW TURN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000680 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPKO SOCI AU SU SUBJECT: SOUTH DARFUR FIGHTING TAKES NEW TURN ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A traditional rivalry between two clans in South Darfur erupted in Sheiria, South Darfur, on April 30, with the introduction of mortars into fighting between the sides in an IDP camp. UNAMID leadership acknowledges this is the first time it has heard of use of this type of weaponry in such a skirmish, and the Ceasefire Commission initiated an investigation on May 1. Initial reports of this incident point to Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi (SLA/MM) forces as the perpetrators. This movement was also implicated in reports of fighting on the same day with janjaweed elements, also in South Darfur, that led to the displacement of some 2,700 families. SLM/Minawi denies these allegations, attributing the violence to Government-inspired retribution related to the refusal of IDPs to participate in the census and Arab migrations in South Darfur. END SUMMARY. UNAMID CALLS USE OF MORTARS A "FIRST" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reported in its May 1 briefing that "heavy shooting" had occurred on April 30 between Government of Sudan (GoS) forces and SLA/MM fighters around Sheiria in South Darfur. UNAMID said mortars were used in this incident, with one landing 200 meters from UNAMID company headquarters located in that town. As a result of the fighting, two people were killed in the Sheiria IDP camp, with another ten wounded there, and an additional seven from Sheiria town also wounded. ¶3. (SBU) UNAMID Chief of Staff said this is the first time he has seen the use of mortars in this type of fighting. A representative of the Ceasefire Commission told FieldOff after the briefing that this was the first he had heard of the incident but that an investigation would begin immediately. SLA/MM DENIES INVOLVEMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) SLA/MM representatives in El Fasher (North Darfur) and Nyala (South Darfur) adamantly deny any involvement in this incident. Both El Fasher and Nyala reps confirmed the use of mortars for shelling in the Sheiria IDP camp but noted that this weapon was typically used by the GoS or by SLA/Free Will (with which SLA/MM has been fighting in South Darfur and which is allegedly equipped by the GoS). They also confirmed the number of IDPS killed (two, including one woman) and wounded (ten). ¶5. (SBU) The El Fasher rep reported that an Arab militia from the Birgit tribe (Popular Defense Forces/janjaweed) led by a retired police general named Musa Jalis attacked the Sheiria IDPs, with support from SLA/Free Will. This rep attributed the attack to a form of "payback" for an attack by SLA/Unity against Birgit tribe members in the village of Um Safati in Sania Afandu southeast of Kalma IDP camp outside Nyala, South Darfur, three days earlier, which led to the displacement of some reported 12,000 people (2,700 families) to Kalma. ¶6. (SBU) The Nyala rep, however, said the shooting was an extension of the traditional rivalry between the Birgit and the Zaghawa tribes, especially in South Darfur. He reported that those IDPs killed and wounded were all Zaghawa. Both reps noted that the incident happened in the vicinity of a GoS police station in the camp but that the GoS did nothing to intervene, as was their experience with the GoS in Sheiria. According to the Nyala rep, the situation in Sheiria is now calm and under UNAMID control. UNAMID military observers succeeded in negotiating IDP access to the Sheiria water point, which the GoS had seized during the fighting. The preliminary report of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) on this incident is expected May 4, to be reported septel, although CFC interlocutors have already warned FieldOff that the report's findings are "disappointing." ¶7. (SBU) In a May 3 conversation with Poloff, SLA Chairman Minni Minawi claimed that the fighting in Sheiria was inspired by the Birgit tribesman, with support from the GoS, as retribution for the refusal of Sheiria's IDPs to participate in the census. He also noted that fighting between the Arab Maalia tribe and the Zaghawa south of Nyala has resumed in the recent weeks. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: Maalia-Zaghawa tensions in this area occur annually before the rainy season as the Maalia migrate south and impinge on Zaghawa land. This fighting may be linked to the instability that caused the recent displacements to Kalma camp. In addition, census non-participation seems to be a popular excuse for GoS action against rebel movements resulting in civilian collateral damage during the past week throughout Darfur, not only in the Sheiria incident in South Darfur but in aerial bombardments in North Darfur as well (septel). FERNANDEZ