SUDAN/CHAD - URGE SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATING 4

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 061842 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2018 TAGS: ETTC PREL EFIN KTFN PTER UNSC SU SUBJECT: SUDAN/CHAD - URGE SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATING 4 INDIVIDUALS UNDER TARGETED SANCTIONS REF: A.) BEIJING 2201 B.) USUN 486 C.) PARIS 1005 D.) PARIS 1038 E.) BEIJING 2047 F.) LONDON 1505 G.) MOSCOW 1533 H.) STATE 56630 Classified By: IO PDAS Warlick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 2. ¶2. (C) At the highest level appropriate, USUN and Embassy Paris are requested to urge the French to support the addition of the four names in para 3, including Daoussa DEBY ITNO, to the consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list maintained by the Committee established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan (the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee). Also at the highest level appropriate, USUN and Embassy Beijing are requested to urge the Chinese to support the four names in para 3 be added to the consolidated list and avoid a hold being placed in the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee. USUN, Embassy London, and Embassy Moscow are requested to thank UK and Russia for their support and request host governments' assistance in persuading the French and Chinese to agree to the targeted sanctions and avoid a hold. USUN, Embassies Khartoum, Pretoria, and Ouagadougou are requested to draw on the points in para 7 to inform host governments of our intention to request that the four names in para 3 be added to the consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list maintained by the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee during the 12 June consultations. ¶3. (U) NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS - Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed Achar Foudail TAHA a.k.a. Khalil IBRAHIM a.k.a. Khalil Ibrahim MOHAMED DOB: 15 June 1958 POB: El Fasher, Sudan Nationality: Sudanese Proposed for designation under UNSCR 1591 for impeding the peace process, for constituting a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, and for violating the ban on the sale or supply of arms and related material to the region. Ibrahim is leader of the Darfur-based rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which launched violent attacks on Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman on May 10 and has shown no interest in achieving a peaceful settlement to the crisis in Darfur. He was also co- founder of the now defunct National Redemption Front. According to the 1591 Committee's Panel of Experts' September 2007 report, Ibrahim shipped arms to a non-State armed group commander in Northern Darfur. - Awad Ibn AUF a.k.a. Awad Muhammad Ibn AUF a.k.a. Awad Ahmad Ibn AWF a.k.a. Awad Mohammed Ahmed Ebni NAUF a.k.a. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn OAF a.k.a. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn OUF DOB: circa 1954 Nationality: Sudanese Proposed for designation under UNSCR 1591 for impeding the peace process, constituting a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, and committing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities. Auf is believed to be the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Formerly, Auf was Sudan's head of Military Intelligence and Security and has acted as liaison between the Sudanese government and the Government-supported Janjaweed militias, which have attacked and brutalized innocent civilians in the Darfur region. He has also provided logistical support for the Janjaweed and directed attacks. - Ahmad Muhammed HARUN a.k.a. Ahmed Mohamed HAROUN a.k.a. Ahmed Mohammed HAROUN a.k.a. Mawlana Ahmad Muhammad HARUN DOB: 1964 POB: Kordofan, Sudan Nationality: Sudanese Proposed for designation under UNSCR 1591 for impeding the peace process and for constituting a threat to stability in Darfur and the region. Harun is Sudan's State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and has been accused of war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court in the Hague. He has acted as liaison between the Sudanese government and the Government- supported Janjaweed militias, which have attacked and brutalized innocent civilians in the Darfur region. He has also provided logistical support for the Janjaweed and directed attacks. Previously, Harun was the former coordinator of the Popular Police Forces and also served as State Minister for the Interior, playing a central role in coordinating and planning military operations in Darfur between 2003 and 2005. - Daoussa DEBY ITNO a.k.a. Daoussa DEBY a.k.a. Daussa DEBY ITNO DOB: 1 January 1953 POB: Berdoba, Chad Nationality: Chadian Proposed for designation under UNSCR 1591 for impeding the peace process, for constituting a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, and for violating the ban on the sale or supply of arms and related material to the region. Deby, half brother to Chad's President Deby, has provided material assistance to Darfur rebel groups, including Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army. According to the 1591 Committee's Panel of Experts' September 2007 report, Deby has played a central role in the provision of support to non-State armed groups, including facilitating the provision of or directly providing weapons and military vehicles. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. (U) On May 29, 2007 Awad Ibn AUF, Ahmad Muhammed HARUN, and Khalil IBRAHIM were domestically designated in U.S. under Executive Order 13400, which blocks assets of designated persons who constitute a threat to the peace process or stability of Darfur; are responsible for conduct related to the conflict in Darfur that violates international law; or are responsible for committing violence in Darfur. The United States determined that these three individuals sufficiently met the designation criteria and that their designation was necessary to underscore our commitment to holding accountable those responsible for violence in Darfur. To date, the United States has designated seven individuals responsible for violence in Darfur under U.S. law; four of those individuals have also been designated at the UN under UNSCR 1672 and added to the list maintained by the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee. ¶5. (S/NF) The egregious May 4 bombing of villages in North Darfur by the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the subsequent May 10 attack by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels on Omdurman provide an opportunity to push through the UN Security Council a sanctions package that "multilateralizes" our domestic sanction on Sudan. The Chinese, in a rare move, have offered to work with us in the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee to target Khalil IBRAHIM, leader of the JEM, and possibly Daoussa DEBY, brother to Chad's President Deby and suspected arms trafficker to the Darfur rebels. Officials from the Government of Sudan also bear responsibility for recent violence against civilians and should be included in any multilateral effort to designate individuals for violence in Darfur. Thus, we are also proposing the listing of the two GOS officials previously designated by President Bush in May 2007 - Awad Ibn AUF and Ahmad Muhammed HARUN. -------------- STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶6. (C) The Department's goal is to impose targeted sanctions on these four individuals in order to underscore the seriousness with which we view these actions in Darfur. The UK and Russia have agreed to this approach (see reftels F and G). After some initial confusion within the French government, France is opposed to the listing of Daoussa DEBY. All four names should be proposed in the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee with the goal of achieving consensus. Some countries otherwise inclined to oppose sanctions against Sudanese officials (i.e., China) may calculate that their national interests are better served by not opposing any of the four names in committee, which would avoid a very public vote in the Security Council to designate the four individuals. It would be an acceptable Committee outcome if consensus is only reached on designating IBRAHIM and DEBY. In that case, USUN should seek further guidance from Washington on whether to elevate HARUN and AUF to the UN Security Council for designation by resolution. ¶7. (SBU) The following points may be used to garner support from UNSC members and host governments: - The UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee concerning Sudan has the authority to impose an asset freeze and travel ban against designated individuals who impede the peace process, constitute a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, commit violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities, violate the arms embargo, or are responsible for offensive military overflights in and over the Darfur region. - The egregious May 4 bombing of villages that killed innocent civilians, including women and children, in North Darfur by the Government of Sudan and the subsequent May 10 attack by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels on Omdurman both demand a response from the international community. It is time to add additional individuals (provide names in para 3) to the 1591 Committee list. - In its report of 10 September 2007, the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts specifically recommended adding Daoussa Deby and Khalil Ibrahim to the Committee's consolidated list of designated individuals. The May 10 JEM attack on Omdurman, under the direction of Khalil Ibrahim, further substantiates the need to single him out as an aggressor in the Darfur conflict. The United States designated Ibrahim in 2007 out of our strong bilateral concerns for his contribution to violence and instability in Darfur and strongly encourages his designation now as his militaristic acts and extremist views continue to chip away at the prospects of peace in Darfur. - The ties between Chad and Sudan rebels, their utility as proxy fighters between the two governments, and the impact of their activities on the ground in Darfur should not be ignored. The designation of suspected arms trafficker and half-brother to Chadian President Deby, Daussa Deby Itno, based on his destabilizing activity in the region and support for rebel activity in Darfur, is an important acknowledgment of his disastrous role in the conflict. - The Government of Sudan must be held accountable for its actions on the ground, especially bombings that kill civilians in Darfur such as the May 4 attacks. The United States domestically designated Haroun and Auf in 2007 for their egregious activities in Darfur and we believe that the UNSC should undertake these additional designations. - Designating these four individuals will make a strong statement by demonstrating that the international community takes the May 4 bombings in Darfur and the May 11 attack on Omdurman seriously. The Security Council has designated only four individuals under the Sudan sanctions regime thus far (UNSCR 1672 in 2006); the Council, through its Sudan Sanctions Committee, should take a proactive stance towards another round of designations given recent events on the ground. - We are hopeful that UNSC action on Khalil Ibrahim will send a clear message to other rebels that pursuing peace is the only acceptable means of ending the crisis. ¶8. (C/Rel France) For Embassy Paris and USUN to use with French: - We strongly request the French agree to listing Deby. The UK has agreed to this approach. The Russians have said they will not obstruct consensus. A hold on one name, i.e., Deby, would upset the strategy of presenting a balanced list of these four names, which have been very carefully deliberated. - We are aware of the French request for additional information in support of our position that Daoussa Deby is currently supporting the JEM. Daoussa DEBY is being proposed for designation under UNSCR 1591 for impeding the peace process, for constituting a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, and for violating the ban on the sale or supply of arms and related material to the Darfur region and rebel groups operating there. Deby has provided material assistance to Darfur rebel groups, including Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army. According to the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee's Panel of Experts' September 2007 report (see para 81),Deby plays a central role in the provision of support to non-State armed groups, including facilitating the provision of or directly providing weapons and military vehicles. This information provides a sound factual basis for his designation. - Despite Deby's substantial influence within the Government of Chad, his current honorary title of "grand ambassador" belies French views that he is a senior government official on par with those on the Sudanese side which are being proposed or were accepted for sanction under UNSCR 1591. - We understand that the Government of France (GOF) is willing to pursue sanctions on Chadian rebels, specifically Mahamat Nouri (UFDD-F),Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye (UFDD-F), Timane Erdimi (RFC),and Tom Erdimi (RFC),for their roles in the attack on N'Djamena in February 2008, and on JEM members Gibril Ibrahim (whom Paris described as JEM's silent second-in- command),and Ali al Hajj Mohamed (JEM financier). There appears to be an opening right now in a possible peaceful dialogue that we believe will be undercut by sanctioning Chadian rebels. In April, GOC President Deby announced a new government that is effectively making progress and is directly in contact with the rebels to discuss a way forward. Sanctioning them would cause a blow to this progress. ¶9. (C/Rel Russia) For Embassy Moscow and USUN to use with Russia: - We appreciate that Russia will not obstruct consensus in regards to U.S. efforts to sanction the four individuals listed in para 3. We request Russia's support in urging the other UNSC members to agree to these listings. ¶10. (SBU) For Embassy Beijing and USUN to use with China: - We strongly urge China to support the addition of the names in para 3 to the consolidated list that was established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan and is requested not to block consensus. - We appreciate the Government of China?s willingness to support the designation of rebel or Chadian elements of the Darfur conflict. - The international community cannot credibly pursue designations against one party to a conflict and ignore others that are engaged in acts of equal concern. The Government of Sudan recently bombed civilian populations in Darfur and continues to foment instability in the region. These actions also demand a response. We are also seeking to designate two GOS officials, whom the U.S. has already designated under U.S. domestic law, within the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee. - The U.S. will propose a list of four names, including two GOS officials, rebel actors, and a Chadian actor, to the UNSC Sudan Sanctions Committee. Designating the four names by Committee consensus would be quicker and generate far less media attention than proceeding in the Security Council. Committee meetings are closed to the public and no public vote is taken. If consensus is not reached, we will be compelled to pursue imposition of sanctions on these individuals through a vote in the Security Council, as was done in 2006 when the Council imposed targeted sanctions on four individuals in UNSCR 1672. We hope you share our preference to avoid Council action and designate the four individuals in the Sanctions Committee. - We appreciate China's ongoing support of a proper solution to the Darfur issue based on dialogue and consultation. China efforts to this end, including sending engineering teams to the region, are helpful and valued by the international community. China's leadership in the UN Security Council Committee on Sudan is needed now to move forward on sanctioning these four individuals. ¶11. (U) Jean T Clark (clarkjt@state.sgov.gov; 202.736.7736) in IO/PSC is the POC. Response is requested by Tuesday, 11 June. ¶12. (U) The Department appreciates the posts' efforts. ¶13. Minimize Consider. RICE