Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO827
2009-05-14 08:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

MEETING WITH SLA UNITY DEPUTY HARIR

Tags:  PREL SU CD QA EG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4061
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #0827/01 1340855
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 140855Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2421
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0269
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1301
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0015
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000827 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, AF/SPG, AF/C

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2019
TAGS: PREL SU CD QA EG
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH SLA UNITY DEPUTY HARIR

Classified By: Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs Catherine
Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000827

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, AF/SPG, AF/C

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2019
TAGS: PREL SU CD QA EG
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH SLA UNITY DEPUTY HARIR

Classified By: Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs Catherine
Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. Key Points:

-- SLA Unity Deputy Chairman and Foreign Affairs
Representative Sharif Abdalla Harir (protect) said that SLA
Unity members that signed the Tripoli, Libya Agreement, in
April, were not authorized to do so by the 51-man council, or
Chairman Abdallah Yahya.

-- Harir met with Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader
Khalil Ibrahim and rejected his proposal to join JEM due to
ideological differences.

-- The Doha process has catered to Islamists, but SLA-Unity
will participate if it is invited to by Qatari Minister of
State al-Mahmoud, and if there is something in it for the
group.

-- A ceasefire in Darfur is difficult to obtain because
militias are unwilling to turn over the weapons and control
for security to the Government of Sudan (GOS).

-- Both Government of Egypt (GOE) and the USG can play
significant roles in resolving the Darfur situation. However
Sudanese President Bashir cannot be part of the solution.


2. Comment: Harir is an engaging personality and it was
evident that, unlike many other Darfuri rebel leaders, he is
educated. However, he wore his military vest and pants to
the meeting to convey that he was a soldier involved in a
war. Despite Harir's skepticism about the Doha process, it
was obvious that one of the reasons he requested a meeting
with Embassy Cairo was to inform us that he and SLA Unity had
not been invited to participate. Harir is not a supported of
the Abuja Agreement, but he implied that the lack of USG
willingness to hold the GOS' feet to the fire on the
agreement makes him wary to enter into another U.S.-backed
process. Our meeting with Harir was postponed two times and
we learned that he had come to Cairo from Chad to receive
medical treatment for an unknown ailment. End Comment.

-------------- --------------
Signatories to Tripoli Agreement Don't Represent SLA-Unity
-------------- --------------


3. (C) SLA Unity Deputy Chairman and Foreign Affairs
Representative Sharif Abdalla Harir told us on May 7 that the
SLA Unity members that signed the Tripoli, Libya Agreement,

in April, were not authorized by the 51-man council or
Chairman Abdallah Yahya to represent SLA Unity. He stated
that he and other Unity leaders had been there from the
"start of the resistance" and they have the support of many
IDPs and refugees. Harir described himself as "an
Anthropology professor who was forced to carry a Kalashnikov"
because of the actions of the GOS.

--------------
Harir, SLA Unity Not Joining JEM
--------------


4. (C) Harir told us that that he met with JEM leader Khalil
Ibrahim in N'djamena during the previous week and was given
an ultimatum to join JEM. He stated that he will not be
joining JEM, or even working with JEM as there are
significant points of difference between JEM and SLA Unity.
Harir said that SLA Unity is a center-leftist group, while
Khalil and 17 of the 19 JEM leaders are "Islamists." He said
that Khalil Ibrahim is trying to unify the Darfuri opposition
by force or "buying off people" to accede to JEM. Harir said
JEM does not have a following in Darfur, but it is only
relevant because Chadian President Deby arms Khalil to guard
the Chad-Sudan border. He realizes JEM needs to be involved
in talks, but not to the exclusion of other groups.

--------------
Skeptical, But Open to Doha Talks
--------------


5. (C) Harir told us that he was open to the Doha process if
he saw some potential for SLA-Unity. However, he said that
neither he, nor SLA Unity Chairman Abdallah Yahya, have been
invited to attend the Doha talks. Harir sent a letter to
Qatari Minister of State al-Mahmoud on December 15, 2008
asking for details on the Doha process and its goals.
However, to date, he has never received a response to his
letter. He told U.K. Special Envoy Michael O'Neill, in

CAIRO 00000827 002 OF 002


February 2009, that SLA Unity was willing to meet in Doha,
but Harir has yet to hear anything from al-Mahmoud.


6. (C) Harir told us that he was skeptical that the Doha
process is moving and he said the Qataris don't understand
Sudan. He aid that the perception of the Darfur process is
that the Qataris are catering to "Islamists." Harir pointed
to Doha's close relationship with Hassan al-Turabi and its
focus on the JEM as evidence of the "Islamist ties". He said
that UN/AU Mediator Bassole was only a "passenger" in the
Doha process and was not doing anything substantial. Harir
asserted that the Qataris were the only ones driving the
process and he was not comfortable with that arrangement.

--------------
Ceasefire Needed, But Difficult to Obtain
--------------


7. (C) Harir told us that a ceasefire is needed because IDPs
need to be provided with food and medicine, and he admitted
it is "difficult to talk, while shooting." However, he said
that implementation of a ceasefire will be difficult unless
the militias are allowed to keep their weapons, and assured
that they will part of the "new security arrangement" in
Darfur. Harir said it is impossible for the armed groups to
turn security back over to the people who perpetrated the
violence in Darfur.

--------------
Bashir Does Not Abide by Agreements
--------------


8. (C) Harir stated that the Bashir Government does not abide
by the agreements that it signs. He pointed to the Abuja
Agreement, as evidence that Khartoum's signature means
nothing. Harir said his brother-in-law, Minni Minawi, made
the mistake of trusting the GOS by "trading in his guns in
for a suit, tie, and job that didn't exist." He said that
SLA Unity is willing to work with the National Congress Party
(NCP) on a solution in Darfur, but he stated that "Bashir is
history and should not be counted as part of the solution."

-------------- --
Egypt Can Play a Major Role in Resolving Darfur
-------------- --


9. (C) Harir said that any agreement on Darfur must include
regional countries such as Chad, the Central African
Republic, Eritrea, Libya, and Egypt. He told us that Egypt's
historical links to Darfur and its ability to work with
Khartoum and the Sudanese elites give it a "major role."
Harir said the GOE is also in a position to facilitate
agreement among the other regional countries. Harir stated
that EGIS Chief Soliman is the key person on Sudan in the GOE
because he has a "deep knowledge" of the situation. However,
he opined that the Egyptian MFA are "outsiders."

--------------
U.S. Can Help to Resolve Darfur
--------------


10. (C) Harir said that SLA Unity is looking for a
comprehensive and just political settlement that is
representative of all tribes and ethnic groups in Darfur and
would decentralize the political, economic and security
authority. He stated that he did not expect the USG to solve
the problems of Darfur, but he said the U.S. could play a
role in helping to resolve the crises. Harir encouraged the
USG to consult with Darfuri Americans and bring them into the
process. He warned that the U.S. must leave no doubt where
it stands on the Darfur issue or the GOS will manipulate the
discussions and any agreement.
SCOBEY