GHAZI SATISFIED WITH DOHA CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001341 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019 TAGS: MOPS PGOV PINS PREL SU SUBJECT: GHAZI SATISFIED WITH DOHA CONFERENCE KHARTOUM 00001341 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ROBERT E. WHITEHEAD, FOR REASONS 1.4 ( B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a closing meeting with US. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration, Government of Sudan (GoS) Presidential Advisor Ghazi Salahuddin expressed satisfaction with the recent Doha Civil Society Conference. Ghazi said he would look into lifting travel restrictions on United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and try to enhance security for NGO staff. Gration informed Ghazi that the Jebel Marra Rebel Unification Conference had been postponed due to security concerns. Ghazi was noncommittal about a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Forum in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt in January, 2010. End summary. ¶2. (C) Ghazi said that he planned to meet President Omar Bashir later the same day to request more pressure from the Presidency on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) to allow a "repositioning" of Sudan/Chad relations. Specifically, Ghazi wanted to implement fully the 2006 protocol to improve border security and provide joint monitoring of rebel areas on both sides of the border. In an aside, he confirmed that the GoS is moving Chadian rebel forces from the border area to Mau, well north of El Fasher, and bemoaned the logistical challenges of the operation. Gration told Ghazi that his travel to El Geneina had convinced him that the United Nations-African Union Mission in Sudan (UNAMID) Western Sector is the best organized and most functional sector of UNAMID even though it is located in the area with the highest level of violence and kidnappings. Ghazi agreed that a strong Western Sector is essential to help resolve Sudan/Chad border issues. -------------- GHAZI WILL "LOOK INTO" UNAMID RESTRICTIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) Gration described meetings with the senior staff of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that admitted that they are afraid to continue operations in Darfur, specifically in rural areas, due to overall insecurity and the continued kidnapping of international staff. Ghazi agreed that kidnappings were damaging the image of the GoS and assured that the government would try to improve security. GratiQpointed out that this is a domain in which the GoS can work closely with UNAMID by granting UNAMID access to sensitive regions of Darfur and by relieving restrictions on UNAMID movement. Ghazi countered that "UNAMID is using GoS restrictions on movement as an excuse not to do anything." He nonetheless agreed to look easing existing restrictiQ -------------- REBEL UNIFICATION CONFERENCE POSTPONED -------------- ¶4. (C) Gration informed Ghazi that the Jebel Marra rebel unification conference had been postponed due to security concerns in Jebel Marra. SE Gration called the conference a "logistical nightmare," and noted that the reunification Technical Committee had not followed through in facilitating the conference. Gration noted that the Sudanese Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) faction remains very influential in some IDP camps and with certain rebel commanders. Abdul Wahid's refusal to let the conference go forward was unacceptable, Gration said. Ghazi agreed that Abdul Wahid draws his power from insecurity in IDP camps, and that the GoS and international community need to address this issue. Ghazi was nonetheless unenthusiastic about allowing more UNAMID night patrols to increase security in IDP camps. -------------- -------------- GHAZI "SATISFIED" WITH DOHA CIVIL SOCIETY MEETING -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Ghazi expressed satisfaction with the latest Doha Darfur Civil Society conference. Ghazi stated, "Those in attendance at the Doha talks were very reasonable, they made very fair and reasonable demands". Ghazi stated that the GoS needs to employ civil society more frequently in the peace process. He remarked that he appreciated the more positive role that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) played at KHARTOUM 00001341 002.2 OF 002 the conference. (Note. According to a member of the Joint Mediation Support Team, Ghazi's office added over 100 "NCP-approved" participants to the Doha Civil Society Conference in the days leading up to the event. End note.) -------------- DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIAL FOR IDP RETURNS -------------- ¶6. (C) Ghazi agreed with SE Gration that it is important to begin development work throughout Darfur to make voluntary return of internally displaced peoples (IDPs) more attractive. Ghazi stated that an impending meeting between the GoS Minister of Finance and the three Darfur Walis (governors) would draw up a plan to "marshall all Darfur's resources and maximize their usage for development." Ghazi noted that no one can be left out of development initiatives, including the Arab tribes, since the cooperation of these groups are key to improving security. -------------- CPA FORUM IN JANUARY 2010? -------------- ¶7. (C) Ghazi was hesitant on whether to support a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Forum in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt in January, 2010. Gration explained that the conference Egypt and Norway will co-host the event, with US. participation. The conference would serve as a follow up to the June, 2009 CPA Forum Conference in Washington. Ghazi seemed amenable to the event but asked for details, including specific dates, before committing. ¶8. (C) S/USSES has cleared this message. WHITEHEAD