PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ABYEI SLOW IN COMING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001401 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 KDEM KPKO SOCI SU SUBJECT: PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ABYEI SLOW IN COMING REF: A) KHARTOUM 862 B) 08 KHARTOUM 737 ¶1. Summary. (SBU) On December 8, Poloff met with Ngok Dinka traditional leaders in Abyei town, who stated that the National Congress Party (NCP) is arming militias in the area in order to destabilize Abyei and prevent demarcation of Abyei's boundaries. Traditional leaders also complained that the Abyei Administration's lack of funding and unwillingness to govern hinder development and peace initiatives in Abyei. Civil society leaders told Poloff that they trust the Joint Integrated Police Unit (JIPU) in Abyei more than the Joint Integrated Unit (JIU). Youth leaders added that the JIPU should be an all-Dinka force, as Abyei belongs to the Dinka. Abyei's progress toward peace and development continues to crawl, despite efforts by national and international organizations to improve the situation there. End Summary. -------------- NCP, Not Misseriya, Blocking Demarcation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On December 8, Poloff met in Abyei town with Ngok Dinka traditional leaders who stated that the NCP, not the Misseriya, is behind efforts to hinder demarcation of the Abyei boundary. These leaders stated that the NCP is arming Misseriya, Nuer, and even some NCP-affiliated Dinka militia forces in an effort to destabilize the area and block the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on Abyei (Ref A). Traditional leaders noted that while the Misseriya typically begin to enter the Abyei area in mid-January, this year they came in early November, and came heavily armed. (Note: A drought in the area is at least partially responsible for the Misseriya's early migration this year. End Note.) They added that stability in the region will be impossible without demarcation of the Abyei boundary. -------------- Administration Hindering Peace and Progress -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In a December 8 meeting with Poloff, traditional leaders complained that the Abyei Administration has no capacity or will to govern. Traditional leaders noted that Arop Moyak Monytoc, Abyei's Chief Administrator, and most of its legislators, are rarely in Abyei, and do nothing while there. (Note: Mark Rutgers, UNMIS Head of Office for Abyei, confirmed on December 7 that Monytoc is rarely in Abyei. End Note.) Traditional leaders also noted that funds budgeted to Abyei have not been released, leaving Abyei bereft of basic services and infrastructure. They stated that plans for a traditional migration conference between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya tribal leaders that they submitted to Monytoc last year remain unaddressed. ¶4. (SBU) Despite the recognized ineffectiveness of the Abyei Administration, Ngok Dinka traditional leaders were adamant that a migration conference with Misseriyia leaders cannot take place without government involvement. They stated that without government oversight, enforcement of any agreement reached will be impossible. They added that they could not meet alone with the Misseriya because the Misseriya might kill them. -------------- Distrust of Abyei JIU -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In a December 8 meeting, leaders from the local women's union and youth union told Poloff that they do not trust the Abyei JIU to provide security, and want security in the town provided by the JIPU. Women's leaders noted that the JIU fought amongst itself in the May, 2008 Abyei conflict (Ref B). Youth leaders stated that they want the JIPU to be solely Ngok Dinka, adding that "Abyei belongs to the Dinka" and "everything in Abyei must be Dinka." Youth leaders also stated that a conference with the Misseriya is needed so that the Dinka can teach the Misseriya to stay in one place. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Progress on Abyei's development continues to be extremely slow despite significant efforts by the international community. Progress toward peaceful co-existence between the Ngok Dinka of Abyei and their northern neighbors is also shaky. Ngok Dinka leaders in Abyei display complex and ambivalent feelings toward the Misseriya. Ngok Dinka frequently emphasize that the Misseriya are not enemies of the Dinka, and blame the NCP for conflict in the area. On the other hand, the Ngok Dinka in Abyei universally want Abyei's boundaries demarcated and want Abyei declared Dinka land, an idea that is anathema to the Misseriya. Furthermore, Ngok Dinka in Abyei probably fear the Misseriya and look forward to the protection of the Sudan People's Liberation Army KHARTOUM 00001401 002 OF 002 that would come with Abyei's inclusion in an independent southern Sudan. A peace conference of traditional leaders might help diffuse tensions at the tribal level, or it might reveal to both sides the stark differences between their two visions for the future of Abyei. End Comment. WHITEHEAD