KHARTOUM EAC CONVENES AFTER MEDIA REPORTS ICC WILL ISSUE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000203

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR M, DS, AF, AF/EX, AF/SPG, DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/ICI/PII,
AND DS/OSAC
DEPT PASS TO USAID/AA AND USAID/SEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR AMGT PGOV SU
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM EAC CONVENES AFTER MEDIA REPORTS ICC WILL ISSUE
ARREST WARRANT IN NEXT FEW DAYS

REF: KHARTOUM 146; 01/04/09


1. (SBU) The CDA convened Embassy Khartoum's Emergency Action
Committee (EAC) on February 12 to review the Mission's security
posture after the New York Times and several other major media
outlets reported the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue
an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir in the
upcoming days. In attendance were the A/DCM, USAID, POL, DLO, PAO,
RAO, CLO, CON, OBO SSM, and RSO.


2. (SBU) The security situation in Sudan has not changed since the
EAC last met on February 1, when Sudanese and international media
reported an ICC decision was imminent (reftel). With the exception
of a peaceful march and petition delivery by approximately 100
students at UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher today, there has been
no public reaction to the latest media reports. High-level police
and security contacts are responsive to requests for assistance, and
armed police posted at facilities and residences engaged EmbOffs
today with a business-as-usual demeanor.


3. (SBU) The EAC will continue to monitor the situation closely and
maintain active engagement with host government interlocutors,
specifically MFA, police, and security contacts, to determine if the
relationship is becoming icy. When an ICC announcement is made, the
Post intends to encourage staff to be low-key, and to allow a
liberal leave and work-from-home policy. The Embassy will remain
open and staffed by Mission-essential security, communications, and
Front Office personnel.


4. (SBU) The EAC also reviewed the Consular Affairs-proposed travel
warning language. Because the six-month travel warning review has
coincided with the publication of the New York Times article, to
avoid misconstrued interpretation of the warning's release at this
time, the EAC recommended to wait until Tuesday, after the holiday
weekend, to finalize travel warning language. This will give the
EAC more time to evaluate the situation on the ground. The current
travel warning addresses both the threat environment and prudent
security advice.


5. (SBU) The EAC is most concerned about the potential for one of
many loosely-organized extremist cells in Khartoum to be emboldened
by increased anti-American rhetoric that may result from an ICC
decision. The RSO just concluded a two-day surveillance
detection/attack recognition training program for all Mission
chauffeurs and conducted a Surveillance Detection team practical
exercise this week to address this concern.


6. (SBU) While the Mission operates on a heightened security level,
many soft targets in Khartoum, to include dozens of NGOs, are not as
disciplined or well-trained. In addition to coordinating closely
with the Khartoum American School (KAS) today, the RSO informed the
EAC he will also be hosting an Overseas Security Advisory Council
(OSAC) meeting on Monday, February 16. The RSO will use this
outreach opportunity to review prudent security and emergency
preparedness recommendations with the NGO community. Any change in
the Mission's security posture or ICC-related developments will be
reported via septel.

FERNANDEZ