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,

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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