OYAI DENG AJAK ON ABYEI JIU FORMATION AND INTERIM

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000964 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG NSC FOR HUDSON AND PITTMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS SU CG CT UG SUBJECT: OYAI DENG AJAK ON ABYEI JIU FORMATION AND INTERIM ADMINISTRATION ¶1. (SBU) SPLA Chief of General Staff Oyai Deng Ajak reviewed the latest developments on the Abyei Interim Administration for the Consul General on June 27. As anticipated and previously reported, the Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission Chairman General Arop Mayak will replace Edward Lino as the Administrator for Abyei, and First Vice President Kiir reportedly successfully vetoed President Bashir's attempt to appoint a Misseriya candidate into the deputy slot. The NCP has reportedly bowed to the SPLM's request that it be filled by an Ngok Dinka. However, Ajak did not know who this would be. (COMMENT: While Lino's departure is in some ways a concession, many in Juba have been exasperated with his performance to date. Described by some within the Presidency as "overly preoccupied with details," one frustrated contact told ConGen staff "if Lino goes back to Abyei, he won't have to worry that the Misseriya will kill him, we'll do it first." END COMMENT) ¶2. (SBU) Ajak appeared pleased with the final status of the Joint Integrated Units and a commitment by the NCP to move the 31st Brigade out of Abyei North of the newly established interim Abyei boundary by month's end. While the SPLM lost out on their request for wholly mixed JIU units, Ajak noted that squads of SPLA and SAF JIU would be interspersed throughout the Abyei region. UNMIS-facilitated joint training of the JIU forces in Abyei town is on schedule, Ajak reported. Breaking the impasse on the question of the composition of the region's police force, Ajak stated that the 700-strong police contingent would be a mix of Northern and Southern police officers. The police commander, a Northerner, is apparently well-known to the SPLM and acceptable to Kiir. ¶3. (SBU) Ajak expressed his gratitude to the USG for the Commander-level training it has provided over the last several months, stating that it has been universally well received by his top generals and that additional courses are needed to bring this level of training down to the division and brigade commander level. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: If the mutually accepted Abyei interim administration is announced, JIUs and police units trained and fully deployed, it will mean that most of the key elements of the June 8 Abyei road map have been achieved. These are, however, only the first hurdles of what will be a complex, drawn out and dangerous process in one of Sudan's most volatile regions. End comment. FERNANDEZ