U.S SPECIAL ENVOY GRATION VISITS MALAKAL, ASSESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001005 SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PINR PINS MCAP KDEM EAIR SU SUBJECT: U.S SPECIAL ENVOY GRATION VISITS MALAKAL, ASSESSES JIUS REF: A. KHARTOUM 375 Classified By: Classified by: CDA Robert E. Whitehead for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During the August 20 visit by U.S. Special Envoy (S/E) for Sudan General Scott Gration to Malakal, capital of Upper Nile State, where fatal clashes between local Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) occurred in February, JIU commanders said relations between their forces were "good". In a separate meeting, however, Dok Jok, Deputy Governor (SPLM) of Upper Nile State, said the security situation in the state remained tense and accused the Government of Sudan of bringing in arms. S/E Gration toured the Malakal airport, which lacks basic navigation, lighting and flight data equipment. End Summary. JIU Co-Commanders say SAF-SPLA Relations "Good" -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) At a meeting in the Malakal JIU headquarters, Commander General John Monykuer (SPLA) and Acting Commander Colonel Fadallah Ismail Musa (SAF) told S/E Gration that their primary concern was how to base the JIUs outside of Malakal in order to prevent civilian casualties in the event of further fighting between the JIUs. (Note: The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) JIUs are currently based on opposite sides of Malakal. In November 2006 and February 2009 the two units fought in the town, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. End Note) General Musa stated that relations between the JIUs were "good" and that the JIU Commanders were working together effectively. With respect to the UN, Colonel Musa said he wished the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) would provide more help with training. As to the goal of creating a truly joint integrated unit, General Musa told S/E Gration that unfortunately the JIUs do not currently conduct any joint training, due to the fact that they do not have a joint training protocol. Gemeral Musa stated that they look forward to joint training in the future. The JIU's are receiving the resources they need from the Government of National Unity (GNU),General Monykuer said. ¶3. (C) During an inspection of the facilities of each JIU component, Generals Monykuer and Colonel Musa told S/E Gration that the JIUs were of equal size, with 2000 soldiers and eight vehicles each. Some soldiers were housed at their respective base, while others lived in the surrounding area. Neither JIU base is equipped with a firing range and all training is conducted exclusively on base. In response to a direct question, General Musa told S/E Gration that all his JIU soldiers are SAF. (Note: UNMIS Chief of Civil Affairs Rose Sakala told Poloff on August 19 that the SAF JIU is primarily composed of former Southern militia forces. End Note) General Musa told S/E Gration that, in principle, the soldiers should rotate every two years, but that this plan has not been implemented. When pressed, General Musa added that the soldiers currently in the JIUs would in fact be there through 2011. Deputy Governor: Malakal Remains Tense -------------- ¶4. (C) In a separate meeting, Deputy Governor of Upper Nile State Dok Jok (SPLM) expressed concern about the security situation in his state. He noted that there have been two recent battles in Malakal between the JIUs and said the situation in Malakal remains tense. Jok accused the Khartoum government of bringing weapons into Upper Nile State thereby creating "havoc in the area". Jok told S/E Gration that the removal of Salah Gosh as head of NISS was unlikely to improve the situation because Gosh remains a close advisor to President Bashir. Jok said that most people in Upper Nile State could not be expected to disarm peacefully. Malakal Airport Under-Equipped -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Malakal Airport Acting Manager Musa Ali Musa told S/E Gration that the airport's VHF Omnidirectional Range navigation system (VOR) functioned only a few hours each day. (Note: VOR is the primary navigation system for most aircraft. End note) Lights on the runway had been wired but have never functioned, and the tower lacks a computer or telex with which to receive flight data; all flight data is received by telephone. Musa stated that the airport does not KHARTOUM 00001005 002 OF 002 receive sufficient funds from the GNU to upgrade its capabilities and expressed the view that the UN, the airport's primary user, should do more to upgrade its capabilities. There is an ongoing but unfinished project to lengthen the 2000 meter runway by an additional 1000 meters, which would make it usable by virtually all aircraft in the GOS inventory, including SAF's MIG-29s. This message was cleared by S/USSES. WHITEHEAD