DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER LESS THAN HELPFUL ON ABYEI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000972 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, S/CRS, DRL DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU NSC FOR HUDSON AND PITTMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF KPKO PHUM UNSC SU SUBJECT: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER LESS THAN HELPFUL ON ABYEI AND DARFUR REF: A. KHARTOUM 957 ¶B. KHARTOUM 955 Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In an exchange at times collegial, at times heated, CDA Fernandez met the State Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Samani Al-Wasila on July 1 at the GOS Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pressing him for progress implementing the Abyei Roadmap and urgent GOS action to improve security along WFP trucking routes to resolve the shortage of food rations in Darfur and other steps to alleviate a precarious hunger gap in the region. End summary. ¶2. (C) CDA began by noting that relations between the United State and the Government of Sudan (GOS) have reached a plateau following numerous positive signs of progress between February and May of this year. CDA pointed out that the GOS has an opportunity to implement the June 8 Abyei Road Map completely and also show genuine steps towards improving bilateral relations, adding, "I hope we can take advantage of this time." After deriding American "assumptions" on Sudan, Al-Wasila voiced strong Sudanese support for American interest in bringing peace to Abyei, adding "we have a strong belief that you have a role to play." He decried, however, international pressure on Abyei, noting "you will get us to do what you want there at the risk of alienating everyone in Sudan except the Southerners" ¶3. (C) CDA urged immediate GOS action in Darfur to prevent widespread malnutrition during Darfur's rainy season which traditionally leads to a "hunger gap" anticipated this year to be worse than usual. "This is a big problem," Fernandez told Al-Wasila. "It will get worse, and people will blame you because you are the Government of Sudan." With insecurity in Darfur forcing the World Food Program to cut food rations, CDA condemned GOS disregard for the well-being of Darfuris: "There are things you should be doing without us asking. You make it so difficult for us to help your people." Asked by Al-Wasila what has caused such "mistrust," CDA again warned him of impending disaster: "There is hunger because the UN can't get US food assistance to the people in Darfur. If you're smart, you'll do things now." Al-Wasila countered that the majority of the insecurity is caused by the mafia of the splintered Darfur rebel groups, stealing vehicles and other items in Sudan and selling them on the black market in Chad. ¶4. (C) Al-Wasila countered that Darfur covers a vast area, and the GOS is incapable of providing security for the entire area. "Only now can we find shoes for our policemen, new guns and trucks," he said, to which Fernandez retorted, "Because you used your money for Musa Hilal and arms and trucks for the janjawid." Al-Wasila proposed a "new understanding" of the Darfur crisis, estimating that the United States could solve the problem with a "new Marshall Plan," one that would cost "no more than $5 billion." CDA retorted that the Marshall Plan is already in Sudan given the size and scope of US assistance to which Al-Wasila responded with complaints that it is used for emergency assistance, funding foreign NGOs and gold-plated UN ops, not for reconstruction and development in Darfur. CDA raised the issue of Sudan allowing in GMO Corn-Soya Blend (CSB) used as emergency food for malnourished children, long available in Sudan, but banned in late 2006. He noted that Zimbabwe is the only other country that bans this and it is "shameful that you don't allow this now." ¶5. (C) At the end of the meeting, Al-Wasila asked for some time alone with CDA without his minders. He used this time to complain about both the SPLM and Mini Minnawi as "less than trustworthy allies of the Americans." You should do more, "a lot more, as a government" to reach out to the Northern opposition in Sudan, he emphasized. He noted that Sudan is more than the two parties which signed the CPA and scoffed that, "with all his advantages," Minnawi could be ruling Darfur now if he had played his cards right. He added that the US should counsel the SPLM "not to be too greedy" and complained about his ostensible boss, Foreign Minister Deng Alor, "what kind of foreign minister is this who is concerned more about Abyei than about the nation's foreign policy?" ¶6. (C) Comment: Despite his DUP opposition party background, Al-Wasila's reaction showed that he was prepared to toe the GOS line in this meeting, offering tired excuses rather then proposing pro-active steps and offering to follow up. Sadly, KHARTOUM 00000972 002 OF 002 his reactions also betrayed a cynical disregard for humanitarian crises far from Khartoum, which is all too common among the elites no matter what party they belong to. Al-Wasila is not a regime insider, however, and we will continue to press others in the regime on Abyei and Darfur (and elections, press freedoms, and the Nuba Mountains, among others). End comment. FERNANDEZ