DARFUR: NEW JOINT MEDIATOR BASSOLE BRIEFS USUN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000718 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT. FOR IO, AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPKO UNSC SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: NEW JOINT MEDIATOR BASSOLE BRIEFS USUN Classified By: Amb. Alejandro Wolff, for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (U) This is a guidance request. Please see paragraph 6. ¶2. (C) On August 8, UN-AU Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole briefed Amb. Wolff on his strategy to revitalize the political process in Darfur. Bassole said that ICC prosecutor Ocampo's move against President Bashir had "shaken up things" and that he saw an opportunity to advance the political track as a result. Chad-Sudan: -------------- ¶3. (C) Bassole said that one of his priorities would be to work toward better relations between N'Djamena and Khartoum. Otherwise, he said, conflict between Chad and Sudan could eclipse the Darfur conflict entirely. Bassole said that he intended to meet with Deby and Bashir directly to advocate for improved ties. JEM and Abdul Wahid: -------------- ¶4. (C) Asked by Amb. Wolff what steps he would take to bring Khalil Ibrahim and Abdul Wahid to the table, Bassole said that his plan was not to get the two of them in the same room immediately, as they remained opposed to negotiating together. Bassole proposed as an alternative the possibility of initiating two levels of negotiations: one would be focused on the situation in Darfur; the other on the broader issues affecting stability, governance and power-sharing for Sudan as a whole. He hoped that this type of expanded format would allow space for both Ibrahim and Wahid to engage productively while avoiding direct negotiations for the time being. Bassole also encouraged USG officials to meet JEM members who are currently in New York. Such a meeting could provide an opportunity to hear their views and to press JEM to participate, he said, adding that he did not believe JEM would seek to publicize the meeting. Burkina Faso: -------------- ¶5. (C) Bassole, who until August 1 served as foreign minister of Burkina Faso, acknowledged that his appointment as Joint Chief Mediator had put his country in a delicate position regarding its Darfur policy. (NOTE: This may partially explain Burkina Faso's decision not to deviate from the AU line in any way in the dispute over including ICC language in the UNAMID renewal resolution -- a reversal of their previous tendencies. End note.) ¶6. (C) Guidance request: We request Department guidance on Bassole's recommendation that a USG official agree to meet JEM members in New York. Khalilzad