U.S. Special Envoy Gration Assesses Abyei Tensions

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001344 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS SU SUBJECT: U.S. Special Envoy Gration Assesses Abyei Tensions REF: A) KHARTOUM 1165 B) KHARTOUM 1234 C) KHARTOUM 1263 D) KHARTOUM 1135 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On November 19, US Special Envoy to Sudan (SE) General Scott Gration traveled to Abyei and to Muglad, Southern Kordofan, to assess implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the security situation in and around Abyei. In Abyei town, the Deputy Administrator described financial challenges and the Abyei Boundary Demarcation Committee noted halting progress and significant security concerns from Misseriya tribesmen on and near the Abyei boundary. Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) commander Colonel Abu Salah downplayed security concerns while Joint Integrated Police Unit (JIPU) commander Colonel Mohamed Abdel Gadir noted that the Misseriya migration is the greatest security threat to Abyei. In Muglad, Misseriya tribal leaders unanimously and categorically rejected the Abyei decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA),Abyei boundary demarcation, and international interference in the matter. SE Gration's visit to the region highlighted why the Abyei region remains the most contentious in Sudan. End summary. -------------- Deputy Administrator Describes Challenges -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Deputy Abyei Administrator Rahama Abdul Rahman al Nour, a Misseriya from the National Congress Party, described co-existence conferences that included both the Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya and said that the situation in Abyei was peaceful. He lamented the lack of development and social organization and said that the Ministry of Finance had not yet transferred the two percent of oil revenues owed the Ngok Dinka, a total of 35 million Sudanese pounds. He expressed gratitude for US funding of various social and developmental initiatives in the area. In response to SE Gration's query about formation of a joint task force to explain to all parties the Permanent Court of Arbitration decision on Abyei boundaries and access rights, Rahama admitted that this was not yet in place. On the issue of voter registration, he explained that Abyei did not have its own electoral commission and depended upon the Warrap to register in the southern part of Abyei, and a commission from Southern Kordofan in the north. -------------- Demarcation Committee Laments Insecurity �00A; -------------- ¶3. (SBU) SE Gration met with Kuwal Beyong, Deputy Chair of the Abyei Demarcation Committee (SPLM) and two of his SPLM colleagues in Abyei town. Beyong opened by complaining that the census figures in Abyei were inaccurate and that voter registration was going slowly and had been manipulated in the northern part of Abyei. Turning to the subject at hand, the border committee members stated that they had made limited progress demarcating Abyei's western and eastern boundaries, but lamented that insecurity is impeding their ability to demarcate the northern boundary (Ref A, B and C). They cited an incident in which a Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) unit stopped their work in the eastern part of the northern boundary near the Heglig oil field (Ref D) and refused them permission to leave the main road. They also claimed that Misseriya militias and Popular Defense Force troops opposed to demarcation are stationed along the central and western portion of the northern boundary. ¶4. (SBU) Beyong confirmed that the Government of National Unity (GoNU) had provided two helicopters to facilitate demarcation and that the demarcation team had installed six marking poles out of the total of 28 that are to be located approximately ten kilometers apart along the 242-kilometer long East-North-West boundaries. The team had installed marking poles on the southern end of the east and west boundaries, but none of the 17 markers planned for the northern border, including the crucial markers that identify the corners, was yet in place because of security concerns. Beyong complained the Misseriya militias seriously outnumbered the team's JIU protection force, which was suspect anyway because half of the force consisted of Misseriya tribesmen of uncertain loyalty. He concluded by noting that GoNU Presidential Advisor Idriss had not yet agreed with Government of Southern Sudan Vice President Machar and Minister Biong to form the badly needed Oversight Committee. -------------- JIU Commander Confident of Security -------------- ¶5. (SBU) SE Gration next traveled to JIU headquarters in Abyei town to meet Colonel Abu Salah, who had a much rosier view of things. Colonel Salah explained that the JIU was fully integrated, and was a model for Sudan. Salah assured SE Gration that security is in place KHARTOUM 00001344 002 OF 002 in Abyei and that the JIUs are protecting the Abyei boundary demarcation committee. When pressed for an explanation as to why the demarcation team feels impeded in its work, Salah replied that he has not seen any obstacles to demarcation. Salah admitted that some Misseriya are gathering along the northern boundary, but noted that six demarcation poles have been successfully installed. When SE Gration asked if there were problems with installation of the other markers, Salah initially stated that it was the UNMIS responsibility to protect the demarcation team outside of populated areas, then immediately reversed himself. -------------- JIPU Commander: Migration Largest Concern -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In a visit to JIPU headquarters, JIPU commander Colonel Mohamed Abdel Gadir told SE Gration that the largest security concern in Abyei is the approaching Misseriya migration. Gadir said that the JIPU, like the JIU, is composed of both Dinka and Misseriya. Gadir noted that the JIPU faces financial constraints and that some JIPU officers remain in Khartoum. Gadir stated that the JIPU coordinates its security activities with the JIUs through the Abyei Security Committee. -------------- Misseriya Leaders Reject PCA Decision -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In a November 19 meeting with SE Gration, Misseriya leaders in Muglad unanimously and categorically rejected the PCA's ruling defining the boundaries of the Abyei Special Administrative District. Over one hundred Misseriya tribal leaders gathered to express their views to SE Gration, through four pre-selected speakers. Each speaker noted that the Misseriya want peace, but then expressed the view that the PCA decision was an unjust taking of land they consider their own, without their consent or involvement. The speakers vigorously rejected the idea that Abyei boundaries other than the one to the west should be demarcated in any fashion and they insisted that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement granted citizenship rights to both the Ngok and Misseriya. They also rejected outside interference and stated that the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka tribal leaders could work out grazing rights and other issues on their own, as they had for many years. Speakers complained of international bias favoring the Ngok Dinka and said that they do not receive equivalent development aid. ¶8. (SBU) Comment. This year's migration of the Misseriya into Abyei is already in full swing. The migration must go smoothly if peace is to prevail along Sudan's least stable fault line. If the migration is peaceful, local tensions might be reduced, perhaps giving political actors more leeway for compromise. It is unclear, however, the extent to which political actors are motivated by local concerns, or are in fact using local concerns as an excuse while pursuing control over the land and energy resources of Abyei. End Comment. WHITEHEAD