BOMBING CONTINUES AND GOS BLOCKS UNAMID SENIOR LEADERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000140 DEPT FOR AF A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AF/C ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: BOMBING CONTINUES AND GOS BLOCKS UNAMID SENIOR LEADERS FROM TRAVELING TO MUHAJARRIYA REF: A) KHARTOUM 134 B) KHARTOUM 125 KHARTOUM 00000140 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 3, the Government of Sudan blocked senior UNAMID leaders from traveling to Muhajarriya - a move that several UNAMID leaders have already interpreted as a violation of UNAMID's Status of Forces Agreement with the GOS. UNAMID sources also reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) dropped over 25 bombs dropped near Muhajarriya on February 3, one of which was only 200 meters from UNAMID's team site (TS). This contact also stated that the number of IDPs seeking protection around the team site continues to rise. END SUMMARY. BOMBING CONTINUES - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) On February 3 at 17:00 local time, a contact from UNAMID's Joint Mission Analysis told poloff that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continued "heavy bombing" in Muhajarriya with over 25 recorded incidents of aerial bombing on February 3. This contact reported that one of the bombs landed 200 meters from UNAMID's Team site. As a result of the extensive bombing, this source stated thatQ the number of IDPs seeking refuge around the team site perimeter continues to rise. UNAMID LEADERSHIP BLOCKED FROM TRAVEL - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) Also on February 3, three senior UNAMID leaders (from JMAC, UNDSS, and Public Affairs) and one UNAMID political officer all confirmed that Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services blocked senior UNAMID leaders from traveling to Muhajarriya on February 3. (As reported in Ref A, a UNAMID delegation led by Deputy Force Commander Emmanuel Karenzi and including Human Rights, Public Affairs, UNDSS, NGOs, and humanitarian agencies planned on traveling to Muhajarriya for fact-finding and assessment mission on February 3.) The delegation planned to depart El-Fasher at 9:30 by helicopter, stop in Nyala for additional passengers, and then continue on to Muhajarriya. ¶4. (SBU) According to UNDSS'S Chief Aminata Thiaw, NISS in Nyala refused flight clearance for UNAMID for the UNAMID aircraft. "The cancellation of this trip had nothing to do with UNAMID. NISS would not grant clearance and so that was the end of it," stated Thiaw. One participant in the trip from UNAMID Public Affairs separately told poloff that UNAMID's senior staff was comfortable with the trip and that the UNAMID Team Site (TS) and pilots had both taken necessary safety precautions. According to this source, the TS had secured the landing area in Muhajarriya and the UNAMID pilots had planned for a direct and quick descent to the landing area. The Public Affairs official reported that as UNAMID waited for the necessary clearances, senior UNAMID representatives were made to wait for over two hours. "There was the usual 'blame-game' and 'ping-pong' from the Sudanese security as they tried to blame another region or office for the decision," said this source. After two hours of waiting, the decision was finally made that the clearance would not be granted, and the UNAMID leaders decided to return to headquarters. SIGNIFICANCE - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) Several of these UNAMID contacts within JMAC, Public Affairs, and Political Affairs told poloff that these GOS actions are "very significant" and could be a violation of the UNAMID's Status of Forces Agreement (see text in para 7 for portion of SOFA) with the GOS. "We are not being allowed to do our jobs and assess the situation for ourselves," stated one UNAMID contact. COMMENT - - - - ¶6. (SBU) The ongoing violence in Muhajarriya, the displacement caused by it, and the GOS's interference with UNAMID's freedom of movement are all causes for serious concern. The GOS often prevents UNAMID from visiting areas where there is fighting or bombing (or where there was fighting and bombing) due to security concerns - which in some cases are legitimate but often serve as an excuse to deny UNAMID access to areas and populatioNs that would provide damning information. CDA Fernandez conveyed our grave concerns about this latest example of GOS obstruction to State Minister of Foreign Affairs Al Samani Al Wasila the afternoon of February 3 and will follow up with additional NCP officials tomorrow. We are also passing the same message to contacts at NISS. Post recommends an additional statement from the Department expressing concern about the ongoing fighting and SAF bombing, calling on JEM to withdraw from positions in South Darfur and a return to the status quo ante of January 14, and calling on the GOS to allow UNAMID full access to Muhajarriya. The meetings of Chief Mediator Bassole in Doha with KHARTOUM 00000140 002.8 OF 002 the Government and JEM take on added importance to negotiate a ceasefire and safe passage for JEM back to North Darfur. ¶7. Begin text on Status of Forces Agreement: "12. ... UNAMID shall enjoy full and unrestricted freedom of movement without delay throughout Darfur and other areas of Sudan where UNAMID is operating in accordance with its mandate by the most direct route possible, without the need for travel permits or prior authorization or notification, except in the case of movements by air, which will comply with ICAO safety regulations and the customary procedural requirements for flight planning and operations within the airspace of Sudan as promulgated and specifically notified to UNAMID by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sudan..." FERNANDEZ