ARAB DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION HEAD PREVIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000668

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL SU QA
SUBJECT: ARAB DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION HEAD PREVIEWS
INVOLVEMENT IN DARFUR TALKS

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) Director Marzen Marzouk
told Ambassador November 12 that the GOQ had invited the ADF
to participate in the talks with civil society leaders
scheduled to take place in Doha later in November.

-- The ADF Director noted that several of the Darfur-based
groups expected to participate were members of a network that
ADF developed to foster reconciliation there.

-- Marzouk said that militia groups had placed a lot of
demands on the GOQ, including financial ones, and expressed
his belief that MFA Minister of State Ahmed Al-Mahmoud
understands the value of nurturing civil society as a
counterweight to the militias.

-- Ambassador pointed out that militia leaders such as Khalil
Ibrahim were expected to attend the civil society talks.
Marzouk said that the militias were trying to make the case
that they had civil society groups of their own, but was
hopeful that this argument would not prevail.

--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------

-- The ADF has done a considerable amount of work with civil
society actors in Darfur, organizing a broad network of
groups representing diverse interests. Minister of State
Al-Mahmoud is wise to have invited ADF to participate, since
tapping this resource could bolster the prospects for a
sustainable peace. The militias have made their opening
gambit to seize control of the civil society track, however,
and all parties should proceed with caution so that this
critical component of the peace process is not damaged.


End Key Points and Comments.


1. (SBU) Ambassador met November 12 with Marzen Marzouk,
Director of the Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF). The meeting
was held at Dr. Marzouk's request to discuss his
organization's involvement in the Darfur talks to take place
in Doha later in November. Also present in the meeting were
ADF Deputy Director of Programs Wafa'a Omar and Poloff
Caudill.


2. (SBU) Dr. Marzouk informed Ambassador that the GOQ had
invited the ADF to participate in the talks along with the
representatives of other civil society organizations. He
reviewed ADF's development of a broad network of civil
society groups and local stakeholders in Darfur and stressed
his belief that deep civil society involvement in the peace
process was critical to reaching a sustainable settlement.


3. (SBU) Ambassador agreed that civil society involvement was
critical, and asked Dr. Marzouk whether those groups coming
to Doha for the talks were part of ADF's network, and to what
extent ADF would be involved. Dr. Marzouk replied that they
were part of the network and that ADF had been consulted by
the MFA concerning which groups to invite. He said that there
must be a political track (led by MFA) and a civil society
track (with organizations doing work on the ground in
Darfur),and that both must be working toward the same end.


4. (SBU) Ambassador asked Dr. Marzouk for his ideas on how
the political and civil society tracks would relate to one
another. Dr. Marzouk replied that legitimate civil society
actors working in Darfur must have a role in the final
settlement. "If they let the political process dominate, they
will arrive at a peace settlement without the input of those
who have to live with it", he said. He noted that the
militias often made financial demands of the GOQ, and said
that in his meetings with MFA Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Ahmed Al-Mahmoud the latter seemed to understand the
utility of nurturing civil society in Darfur as a
counterweight against the militias.


5. (SBU) Ambassador noted that such militia leaders as Khalil
Ibrahim were expected to attend the civil society talks, and
asked Dr. Marzouk for his insights into why these political
actors would be included. Dr. Marzouk replied that the
militias were trying to control the civil society track by
claiming that they had civil society organizations of their

DOHA 00000668 002 OF 002


own. He expressed his concern over this justification, but
was hopeful that the GOQ and Minister of State Al-Mahmoud
would reject his argument.
LeBaron