FEW BRIGHT SPOTS IN EASTERN SUDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000086

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV ER SU
SUBJECT: FEW BRIGHT SPOTS IN EASTERN SUDAN

REF: A. 08 KHARTOUM 1557

B. 08 ASMARA 361

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: A group of eastern Sudanese lawyers and
political activists, all past participants of the
Peacebuilding Center for the Horn of Africa (PCHA) workshop
series, expressed concern over the faltering implemention of
the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA). They said the GOS
has criminalized any dissemination of copies of the agreement
or public discussion of it. Earlier activists have been
lulled into complacency by the salaried but powerless
positions provided for by the ESPA. As a result, the new
generation of activists is eager for the opportunity to learn
about politics and governance outside of Sudan. End Summary.

WHAT PEACE AGREEMENT?
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2. (C) The ESPA was intended to include more eastern Sudanese
representation in the GOS and called for an elimination of
"political, economic, social, and cultural marginalization"
of eastern Sudanese peoples. Two lawyers, Ms. Sumaia Ali and
Ms. Khansa Ahmed, reported that not only had no progress been
made in the implementation of the agreement (ref A),but also
it was considered criminal to distribute copies of it or to
discuss the agreement's details in public. Even in
influential or educated circles, the details of the ESPA are
not well known. Political education workshops are
non-existent and to organize one would be a threat to
personal safety.

PREVIOUS LEADERS SELL OUT THE CAUSE
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3. (C) Two young political leaders (Issam from the Sudanese
Communist Party and Haytham from the SPLM) also expressed
dismay at former activists who were "bought out" by token
political positions. According to Haytham, the GOS assigned
only a handful of positions to members outside of the
National Congress Party. All of these positions are devoid
of real power or influence. Additionally, the few eastern
Sudanese who gained employment under the ESPA became
comfortable and complacent, and did not use their new status
to lobby for continued improvements. As a result, eastern
Sudan lost many once-eager activists willing to take up the
fight for equality.

POLITICAL EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF SUDAN
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4. (C) With the situation bleak, the small group affirmed the
need for political education if the agreement is to have any
chance of success. It is not always easy to travel outside
of Sudan, some of them admitted. If border officials become
suspicious of large groups traveling together, the borders
close altogether and authorities seize identification
documents, sometimes indefinitely. Nonetheless, the
participants remain determined to attend whatever political
education opportunities are available, particularly the
USG-funded PCHA workshop series (ref B).
MCMULLEN