A/S BOSWELL VISIT TO EL FASHER, APRIL 29

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000605

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: A/S BOSWELL VISIT TO EL FASHER, APRIL 29


1. (SBU) Summary: The security situation in Darfur is relatively
calm, but remains fluid and unpredictable, with ambushes,
abductions, armed robbery and carjackings posing the most danger to
Westerners according to what UN and international non-government
organization (INGO) representatives told Assistant Secretary for
Diplomatic Security Eric Boswell during an April 29 visit to El
Fasher, North Darfur. They emphasized that overall security had
deteriorated since the March 4 INGO expulsions and the corresponding
increase in hostile rhetoric against Western assistance workers.
During his visit, A/S Boswell also toured the UNAMID Supercamp and
Nigerian Level II Hospital, as well as existing USG facilities in El
Fasher. End Summary.


2. (SBU) A/S Boswell and Special Assistant Karen Lass arrived in El
Fasher on April 29 accompanied by the DCM, RSO and USAID Mission
Director. At UNAMID Headquarters in El Fasher, A/S Boswell had a
courtesy call with UNAMID Force Commander General Martin Luther
Agwai, who noted that fighting between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and
rebels and inter-rebel fighting have virtually ceased since
fighting occurred in Muhajeriya in January-February. "Banditry and
criminality are currently our biggest challenge" to keeping peace in
Darfur, he said. A/S Boswell was then briefed in detail on the
security situation by UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS)
Officer Frazer King. The month of April was one of relative calm,
but the situation remains fluid and unpredictable, according to
King. Recurring trends include tensions between the SAF and
non-signatory rebel movements; tribal clashes over grazing and water
rights; the Chad-Sudan proxy war involving the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM) and the Chadian Union des Forces de la Rsistance
(UFR); incidents targeting the UN and INGOs; banditry against
civilian and internally displaced persons (IDP) populations; and a
tense environment in IDP camps following the March 4 expulsion of 13
INGOs. Security personnel are currently most concerned about
ambushes, abductions and kidnappings, armed robbery and carjackings,
according to King. Kidnappings in particular are a major concern as
they may proliferate as an alternative source of income to
carjacking. At UNAMID Headquarters, A/S Boswell also toured the
hybrid force's Nigerian Level II Hospital, and later in the day saw
the sprawling UNAMID Sector North "Supercamp" currently under
construction.


3. (SBU) Following his departure from UNAMID Headquarters, A/S
Boswell had a courtesy call with the Wali (Governor) of North
Darfur, Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, who greeted him cordially. A/S
Boswell expressed his appreciation to the Wali for the support the
GOS provides to USG personnel while in Darfur. He also remarked to
the Wali the desire of the USG to establish a more secure platform
for TDY personnel to spend time in El Fasher. Kibir welcomed the
effort to establish such a facility, and emphasized to A/S Boswell
that the time was ripe for the USG to advance the cause of peace in
Darfur. "We have a local saying that a chance [like this] never
comes twice," he said.


4. (SBU) Following the meeting at the Wali's office, A/S Boswell
attended a UN Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
briefing and INGO roundtable with over a dozen representatives from
INGOs and UN agencies to discuss security in the field. The group
emphasized that security on the ground is not improving, and in
fact, may be getting worse. Two recent kidnappings of international
INGO staff in Darfur have changed the tenor of the working
environment, they said, as has the hostile rhetoric and fallout from
the expulsion of thirteen INGOs. INGO representatives also expressed
frustration at the perceived lack of security information they
receive from UNAMID and UNDSS, alleging that what they get is
inadequate and provides little feedback, guidance or analysis. They
did, however, compliment the quality and responsiveness of UNAMID
medical care and evacuation, as well as UNAMID's quick response to
compound break-ins and other security incidents in El Fasher town.
Finally, A/S Boswell toured the US Embassy Green House and Blue
House facilities, as well as separate USAID TDY work and living
quarters on the other side of town.


5. (SBU) Comment: Even as the Darfur conflict winds down, insecurity
is likely to be rampant in an area that has, for decades, been
characterized by lawlessness. Given the scope of USG political and
humanitarian engagement in Darfur, the lack of a secure platform for
USG personnel there is untenable. While current USG facilities
continue to house USG personnel for short periods, they remain
largely inadequate despite incremental security upgrades. A secure
platform is urgently needed given what will likely be a prolonged
engagement in humanitarian relief and recovery activities as well as
the Darfur peace process and, eventually, longer-term development
initiatives.
FERNANDEZ