DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000557 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/E GRATION E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA SUBJECT: DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER Classified By: CDA Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b and d). -------------- (SBU) KEY POINTS -------------- -- On September 7, MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Al-Mahmoud met in Doha with African Union/United Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole. -- The purpose of the meeting was to establish a mechanism for restarting the stalled Darfur peace talks. -- On September 8, the Embassy received a communique from the MFA announcing that talks between the Government of National Unity of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups would resume in Doha in late October. -- In advance of those talks, the communique states, Qatar will hold a capacity building workshop. A civil society forum aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the parties will also be held "prior to the commencement of final peace talks." -------------- (C) COMMENTS -------------- -- While the communique announces the resumption of the talks, it does not indicate the extent to which the warring factions in Darfur have agreed to participate. -- Although the resumption of talks is welcome, it is disturbing that SE Gration -- who has coordinated closely with Al-Mahmoud -- was not consulted prior to the announcement of these dates. End Key Points and Comments. ¶1. (SBU) MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Al-Mahmoud, Qatar's de facto Foreign Minister and the force behind Qatar's efforts to mediate the Darfur conflict, met September 7 in Doha with Djibril Bassole, the AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur. The talks were aimed at restarting the stalled efforts to resolve the conflict. ¶2. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud and Bassole issued a communique at the close of their discussions, a copy of which was faxed to the Embassy on September 8. The communique stated that the talks between the Government of National Unity of Sudan and armed factions in Darfur would begin the last week of October. ¶3. (SBU) Before those peace talks resume, according to the communique, there will be two workshops designed to facilitate dialogue between the parties: the first, to be held during the first week of October, will focus on capacity-building, including ways to improve the security situation in Darfur as well as socio-economic development; the second, to be held "prior to the commencement of final peace talks," will promote peace and reconciliation between the parties and sustainable development in Darfur. ¶3. (SBU) Below is an unofficial English translation of the communique provided by the GOQ. This translation and the original Arabic text have been transmitted in their original formats to S/E Gration's staff and NEA/ARP. Begin text: On 7 September, Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Mr. Djibrill Bassole, the AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, held consultations in Doha (Qatar) to discuss ways of advancing the peace process and achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur. They welcomed the initiatives undertaken to unify the Darfur armed movements in Libya, as well as those of the U.S. Special Representative, General Scott Gration. Recalling the relevant provisions of the Tripoli communique of 10 August 2009, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr. Bassole expressed the hope that these unification efforts would contribute to the cohesion of the armed movements, their ability to develop common negotiating positions, and their willingness to begin negotiations with the Government of National Unity of Sudan and the Darfuri armed movements in DOHA 00000557 002 OF 002 the last week of October 2009. In advance of these peace talks, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr. Bassole will invite the armed movements to participate in a capacity-building workshop to be held in Doha during the first week of October. The workshop will offer the participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to the peace process, including the improvement of security for the people of Darfur and socio-economic development. The Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Mediator also agreed to organize a civil society forum in Doha with the participation of representatives of all Darfuri communities. The civil society forum, which will be held prior to the commencement of final peace talks, will enable Darfur's diverse communities to contribute to the establishment of peace and reconciliation and to promise sustainable development in Darfur. The State Minister and the Mediator call upon all parties to the Darfur conflict, in particular the signatories of the Doha Goodwill Agreement of 17 February 2009, to take all necessary measures to foster confidence and promote dialogue for the restoration of a lasting peace in Darfur. Nantongo