Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA2
2009-01-02 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ISAIAS TELLS MINAWI TO BE PROACTIVE
how-toVZCZCXRO8547 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0002 0020756 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 020756Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0087 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000002
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS TELLS MINAWI TO BE PROACTIVE
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1848
B. ASMARA 592
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000002
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS TELLS MINAWI TO BE PROACTIVE
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1848
B. ASMARA 592
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Sudanese senior presidential advisor Minni
Minawi met with President Isaias December 25 and 26 (ref A),
reportedly complaining about Bashir's inability to bring
about peace and his own lack of influence within the Bashir
government. Isaias reportedly told him he should take action
rather than complain. Minawi also met with former Sudanese
rebels, Dr. Tasier and Dr. Sharif, against the wishes of the
Sudanese Embassy in Asmara. End Summary.
2. (C) According to Dr. Taisier of the Peacebuilding Center
for the Horn of Africa (PCHA),Minawi candidly told him that
in his meeting with President Isaias, he complained that
Bashir lacked the political will to bring about peace in
Sudan. Minawi also openly expressed to Isaias his
disappointment in his limited role in the government. In
response, Isaias asked Minawi what he was doing to foster
peace in Sudan other than waiting for Bashir to act.
3. (C) Minawi's meeting with Taisier and Dr. Sharif, also
with the PCHA, took place despite the opposition of the
Sudanese embassy. The ambassador, who accompanied Minawi on
all his other meetings, refused to attend. (Note: Dr. Sharif
is a co-founder of SLM/Unity and an estranged cousin of
Minawi's. Dr. Taisier is a former Sudanese rebel who was
captured and tortured by the Bashir government). In addition
to providing the read-out on his meeting with Isaias, Minawi
also expressed a desire to work more with the PCHA on its
USG-funded peacebuilding workshops.
4. (C) Dr. Sharif explained to PolOff that Khartoum was
reluctant to allow Minawi to travel, particularly to Chad or
Eritrea. The goverment fears Minawi might re-align with
rebel groups in Chad, and in Asmara he might be swayed by
Eritrea's holistic approach to the Sudanese peace process.
Dr. Sharif defined the GSE-approach to Sudan as a
multi-stakeholder effort where solutions come from all parts
of Sudan rather than simply from Khartoum. However, he went
on, Eritrea recognizes its own limitations in influencing
these matters and has settled on interacting with Khartoum
where it can in order to effect these goals.
5. (C) COMMENT: The GSE openly hosts various Sudanese
factions (SLM/Unity, JEM, SLA, etc.) in hopes of influencing
a broad-based peace in Sudan and ultimately claiming credit
for making peace. At the same time, the GSE hedges its bets
by cozying up to Khartoum. END COMMENT.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS TELLS MINAWI TO BE PROACTIVE
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1848
B. ASMARA 592
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Sudanese senior presidential advisor Minni
Minawi met with President Isaias December 25 and 26 (ref A),
reportedly complaining about Bashir's inability to bring
about peace and his own lack of influence within the Bashir
government. Isaias reportedly told him he should take action
rather than complain. Minawi also met with former Sudanese
rebels, Dr. Tasier and Dr. Sharif, against the wishes of the
Sudanese Embassy in Asmara. End Summary.
2. (C) According to Dr. Taisier of the Peacebuilding Center
for the Horn of Africa (PCHA),Minawi candidly told him that
in his meeting with President Isaias, he complained that
Bashir lacked the political will to bring about peace in
Sudan. Minawi also openly expressed to Isaias his
disappointment in his limited role in the government. In
response, Isaias asked Minawi what he was doing to foster
peace in Sudan other than waiting for Bashir to act.
3. (C) Minawi's meeting with Taisier and Dr. Sharif, also
with the PCHA, took place despite the opposition of the
Sudanese embassy. The ambassador, who accompanied Minawi on
all his other meetings, refused to attend. (Note: Dr. Sharif
is a co-founder of SLM/Unity and an estranged cousin of
Minawi's. Dr. Taisier is a former Sudanese rebel who was
captured and tortured by the Bashir government). In addition
to providing the read-out on his meeting with Isaias, Minawi
also expressed a desire to work more with the PCHA on its
USG-funded peacebuilding workshops.
4. (C) Dr. Sharif explained to PolOff that Khartoum was
reluctant to allow Minawi to travel, particularly to Chad or
Eritrea. The goverment fears Minawi might re-align with
rebel groups in Chad, and in Asmara he might be swayed by
Eritrea's holistic approach to the Sudanese peace process.
Dr. Sharif defined the GSE-approach to Sudan as a
multi-stakeholder effort where solutions come from all parts
of Sudan rather than simply from Khartoum. However, he went
on, Eritrea recognizes its own limitations in influencing
these matters and has settled on interacting with Khartoum
where it can in order to effect these goals.
5. (C) COMMENT: The GSE openly hosts various Sudanese
factions (SLM/Unity, JEM, SLA, etc.) in hopes of influencing
a broad-based peace in Sudan and ultimately claiming credit
for making peace. At the same time, the GSE hedges its bets
by cozying up to Khartoum. END COMMENT.
MCMULLEN