IN AIN SIRO, REBELS TELL SE GRATION THEY'RE READY FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001103 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF KPKO AU SU SUBJECT: IN AIN SIRO, REBELS TELL SE GRATION THEY'RE READY FOR PEACE REF: KHARTOUM 1035 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a September 13 visit to the rebel enclave of Ain Siro, local Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) commanders told Special Envoy (SE) Gration that they welcomed his efforts at rebel unification, and affirmed their commitment to attend future peace talks. They said, however, that they remained highly distrustful of the Government of Sudan (GOS),and expressed concern about the recent movement of Chadian armed opposition groups into North Darfur. They also asked SE Gration for help in bringing humanitarian aid groups to Ain Siro, noting the provision of services is vital to maintaining the allegiance of the local population. "Help us show our community we are good leaders," they said. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Arriving via UNAMID helicopter, SE Gration was warmly greeted by local authorities upon landing in the village of Ain Siro on September 13. (NOTE: Protected by mountains, the area has been controlled by elements of the SLA/AW for the past four years and has been largely untouched by the conflict. END NOTE.) SE Gration was escorted across the barren landscape to a small oasis for a meeting with local administrators and rebel commanders traditionally loyal to Abdul Wahid Al Nur. Among those present were Political Chief Abdalli Ajali; Commanders Ali Haroun Daoud, Suleiman Mohamed Ibrahim, and Ismail Ahmed (known as "Abduldoluk";) and Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Babiker. -------------- SLA WELCOMES PEACE... -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Daoud welcomed SE Gration and commended his efforts to promote rebel unification in pursuit of a lasting peace for Darfur. He noted he had authorized Ismail Rifa Osman to lead a delegation to the Consultative Forum on Darfuri Movements sponsored by SE Gration in Addis Ababa on August 21-22. "The initiative I took received strong opposition from [intransigent Paris-based SLA Chairman] Abdel Wahid Al Nur," he said. "But we must continue this dialogue among movements." He noted that Ain Siro could serve as an ideal venue for a rebel conference in the field, given its central location relative to areas controlled by SLA/Unity's Abdallah Yahia, SLA/Abdelshafie, as well as United Resistance Front's Bahar Abu Gharda. ¶4. (SBU) Daoud continued that that while the local authorities of Ain Siro were committed to rebel unification and the peace process, they shared SLA Chairman Al Nur's strong reservations about the Doha talks, given Qatar's membership in the Arab League. "The Arab League ignored reports of atrocities and enabled the GOS to cause this destruction" for the duration of the Darfur conflict, he said. Nonetheless, he affirmed his commitment to any peace talks that promised to settle the conflict. -------------- ...BUT DISTRUSTS THE GOS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Despite their willingness to sit down for peace talks, the Ain Siro authorities remain highly distrustful of the GOS, which they accused of attempting to destabilize the security situation and undermine rebel unification efforts. According to the Commanders, the GOS is trying to expand its areas of control in North Darfur, having recently set up several new checkpoints in the area and attacked SLA/AW forces in Korma on September 6 (reftel). -------------- CHADIAN REBELS IN NORTH DARFUR -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Commanders also noted they were troubled by the recent movement of Chadian armed opposition groups into the area west of Ain Siro. (NOTE: UNAMID confirmed to SE Gration the movement of several hundred Chadian rebel troops from West Darfur to North Darfur on September 2 and 8, to be reported septel. END NOTE.) Abduldoluk noted that Ain Siro had served as the base for Chadian insurgents led by Idris Deby in 1989-90. Their presence then had caused a severe disruption to life in Ain Siro, "of which we are still feeling the effects today." He urged SE Gration to advise the GOS to remove the Chadians from the area. -------------- HUMANITARIAN SERVICES LACKING -------------- ¶7. (SBU) SE Gration lauded the local authorities' progressive KHARTOUM 00001103 002 OF 002 leadership and their desire to find a peaceful settlement to the Darfur conflict, adding that they were doing what was best for their people. SLA Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Babiker stated that the provision of services is key to building goodwill among the local population, noting how Abdul Wahid is able to maintain fervent support in Jebel Marra due to the perception that he controls humanitarian assistance there. Unfortunately, Ain Siro is suffering from a dearth of NGOs and lacks basic services. Babiker urged SE Gration to use his influence to have NGOs return to the area. "Help us show our people that we are good leaders," he said. -------------- SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTER VISITED -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Following his meeting with the local authorities, SE Gration met with community leaders and toured the local school, which serves six hundred students from first through eighth grade. Previously reliant on donations from abroad, the school has now resorted to charging a small tuition for each pupil, according to the headmaster. The school was rudimentary but well oreanized, with sEpraTe cj!{src}s antavchdd$7allgix!Te\"Ckuepina,al Shro=Ql&hauPa{fQO=js/ bl'p LccsdSkVvQuAfkn"TGQkM!qeQ!}Qhb*tbe said for the half dozen rebel "factions" comprising the recently formed "Revolutionary Forces for Sudan Liberation" in Tripoli. Though re-uniting the Sudan Liberation Army's many factions may be impossible, the coalescence of groups with an actual presence in Darfur (if not popular support) would facilitate peace negotiations. Breaking the IDP's cycle of dependency, and their uncritical support for Abdul Wahid, however, remain greater challenges for the rebel groups. ¶10. (U) This cable was cleared by the Office of the Special Envoy. WHITEHEAD