Civilian Protection Against LRA Attacks in Southern Sudan

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001019 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS MOPS UG SU SUBJECT: Civilian Protection Against LRA Attacks in Southern Sudan REFTEL: STATE 87508 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In response to Reftel, PolOff met with Minister of Interior Gier Cuang Aluong, SPLA Chief of Staff Major General James Hoth and UNMIS officials to assess the SPLA, UNMIS and Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) response capacity to Lord's Republican Army (LRA) attacks in Western Equatoria, southern Sudan. While Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) officials stated there was coordination between the SPLA and UPDF and UNMIS in the area, they also recognized the limitations imposed by their current UN force levels as well as their inability to pursue the LRA into the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The SPLA's inability to guarantee protection to UN agencies in the area has forced them to pull out of Ezo and to elevate area threat levels to level IV, requiring UNMIS armed escort for any work in the area. End Summary. UN Withdraws from Ezo -------------- ¶2. (U) During the weekly UNMIS security briefing, UN officials reported that following LRA attacks in the area of Ezo, Western Equatoria, that WFP had pulled out and UN agencies were now operating out of Yambio. They explained that the SPLA and Western Equatoria Governor Jemma Nunu Kumba had not been able to guarantee security to UNMIS, thus forcing UNMIS to elevate security threat levels to IV and to require UN armed escorts for operations in the Ezo area. UNHCR is planning an assessment of the area this week and will report back findings to the international community in Juba. ¶3. (SBU) In a candid discussion, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande explained that UNMIS peacekeepers need to do more to provide civilian protection. Essentially she argued that UNMIS needs to move from a "static" deployment to a "dynamic model," where peacekeepers would undertake more patrols and act as a deterrent to such attacks. While there is coordination between UNMIS and the SPLA on the ground in the areas of Western Equatoria, she reported, SPLA needs additional troops and UNMIS needs to start doing more patrols in order to protect the civilian population and deter new LRA attacks. GOSS Plans Assessments and More SPLA Troops -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Minister of Interior Gier Cuang Aluong told PolOff that he had met with Ugandan officials in Kampala on August 25 regarding LRA attacks and other issues. He explained that the GOSS and SPLA are very concerned about recent attacks. However, they are also frustrated because the SPLA has limited leeway in pursuing LRA over the border into CAR and DRC. SPLA Spokesperson Major General Kuol Dim reiterated this point and asked for international involvement in the issue. He explained that there was coordination with the UPDF, which has a unit located in Tambura, Western Equatoria, but that the UPDF also does not have permission to pursue LRA units into DRC or CAR. There was constant coordination with UNMIS in the area through the joint military commission (JMC),he explained. ¶5. (SBU) Major General James Ajongo Mawut, SPLA Director of Operations, expressed concern about the more than 21,000 refugees and IDPs in the area, but stated it was the GOSS's responsibility to protect its citizens in the area from LRA attacks. SPLA Chief of Staff James Hoth explained that the SPLA plans to increase troops in Western Equatoria to 6,000 troops, but believes Kone and the majority of the LRA have pulled far away from the border into CAR and DRC. Hoth stated that he would be sending the SPLA Deputy Chief of Staff to the area with Gier to conduct an assessment. Gier stated that the team would not return until the situation had been resolved. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Local response is still difficult to quantify but PolOff hopes to obtain more information once UNMIS and GOSS have completed their assessments. Although food deliveries and other assistance are needed, UN or SPLA protection guarantees are still not solid enough to make many organizations feel they can safely work in the area until more troops are deployed, especially in the Ezo, Tambura and Yambio areas. UNMIS willingness to increase mobile and foot patrols would provide a greater deterrent to future LRA attacks in the future. WHITEHEAD