SENATOR KERRY VISIT TO DARFUR, APRIL 17, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000553 DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A A/S CARTER, AF/C NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SENATOR KERRY VISIT TO DARFUR, APRIL 17, 2009 REF: A) KHARTOUM 548 B) KHARTOUM 539 C) KHARTOUM 538 D) KHARTOUM 537 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On April 17, Senator John F. Kerry and delegation traveled to El Fasher, Darfur for several hours amid much fanfare from local officials. Following an overly ceremonious greeting with dancers representing many of Darfur's tribes, North Darfur's Wali (Governor) Osman Kibir played down humanitarian concerns in Darfur and urged a greater role for the USG in solving the Darfur crisis. At Al Salam IDP camp, camp sheikhs voiced their frustrations at the lack of services following the expulsion of 13 INGOs, and urged the USG to take action to replace them. At UNAMID Headquarters, UNAMID officials told Senator Kerry that the situation in Darfur has evolved into a low intensity conflict characterized by unpredictability - and said that UNAMID is now actually analyzing why the conflict has reduced so dramatically. Meanwhile, Assistant to the President Minni Minnawi remains ambivalent on the prospect of peace talks in Doha, and asserted that his forces remain ready to confront JEM should it re-enter Darfur. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Arriving at El Fasher Airport the morning of April 17, Senator Kerry and the delegation were met on the tarmac by a procession of dozens of local government officials and tribal leaders. At the office of North Darfur Wali Osman Mohammed Kibir, Kerry was welcomed by tribal dancers and drummers before being shown a power-point presentation purporting to bring "enlightenment" on the situation in Darfur and trumpeting the achievements of the North Darfur State government on security and livelihood issues. North Darfur Wali Kibir asserted that the humanitarian situation was being distorted by the international community (singling out CDA Fernandez's advocacy on the 42,000 recent IDPs arriving in Zam Zam IDP camp for special criticism),noting in particular the now-standard GOS line that new arrivals to Zam Zam were not displaced persons but rather, voluntary migrants. He further asserted that there were no gaps in services following the expulsion of the 13 INGOS. Despite these assertions, Kibir proclaimed that the state of North Darfur was ready for a new era of cooperation with the USG, and urged the USG to use its leverage and put renewed pressure on the rebel movements to come to the negotiating table. ¶3. (SBU) Following a prolonged departure from the Wali's Office, Senator Kerry and the delegation proceeded to the nearby Al Salam IDP camp. At the CHF Community Center, camp sheiks assembled told the Senator that they had been living in Al Salam for almost five years since being displaced from areas such as Shangil Tobay and Tawila due to repeated attacks by Arab militia. Life in the camps has become worse since the March 4 expulsion of the 13 INGOs, they said, and urged the Senator to work towards reinstating the expelled entities or find other Western replacements for them. Senator Kerry told the sheikhs that the USG has reached a tentative understanding with the GOS on the resumption of aid activity, but that they expelled groups would not necessarily return. He promised to take the camp sheikhs message with him back to Washington. ¶4. (SBU) Senator Kerry and the delegation proceeded to UNAMID Headquarters where they were briefed by Acting Joint Special Representative Hocine Medili, Deputy Force Commander General Emmanuel Karenzi, and Police Commissioner Michael Fryer. Citing a significant reduction in clashes among parties to the conflict, Acting JSR Medili characterized Darfur as a "low intensity conflict," but noted that the security situation remains unpredictable, especially because of the buildup of proxy forces along the Chad-Sudan border. One explanation for the lull may be that JEM was hurt more badly than believed when it was chased back to Chad, chiefly by an emboldened Minni Minnawi, in February after the Muhajeriyya attacks. Medili said he expected UNAMID's force protection capability to improve with additional deployments before the end of the year, and noted that plans were ongoing for the establishment of Mobile Monitoring Teams (MMTs) to monitor an eventual cessation of hostilities. Chief requirements for MMTs still to be met are military transport helicopters, communications equipment, specialist training and orientation, and non-military logistical support for parties and observers, he said. The deployment of the very important FPUs (formed police units) was lagging behind that of the military and civilian components, mainly because of the slowness of TCCs. ¶5. (SBU) Following the briefing at UNAMID, Senator Kerry and the delegation proceeded to the Embassy-run Green House in El Fasher for a meeting with Assistant to the President Minni Minnawi. Minnawi expressed frustration with the lack of implementation of the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),but noted that his movement was committed to peace in a way unlike Khalil Ibrahim's JEM. Nonetheless KHARTOUM 00000553 002 OF 002 if JEM attacks SLA/Minnawi forces again, "we are ready for them," he said. Minnawi asserted that his force was strong as ever and that "new fighters are joining us every day," despite widespread rumors to the contrary. Senator Kerry thanked Minnawi and emphasized that as a critical stakeholder in Darfur, the USG is eager for his continued role in the peace process. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: UNAMID's contention that Darfur is now a "low intensity conflict" is an accurate one, as the situation on the ground is now characterized by sporadic (but often unpredictable and occasionally spectacular) incidents of violence. As the rainy season approaches, the prospects for a prolonged dtente appear probable, if neither JEM nor the Chadian rebels move in the next couple of months. It is critical that the international community capitalize on this lull to push forward on peace talks to achieve a possible cessation of hostilities, which could be accelerated if MMTs are already in place. Post recommends continued support for MMTs and the air transport assets they require at UNHQ in New York. End comment. FERNANDEZ