PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ASSURES SE GRATION OF GOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000640 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/E NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON DEPT PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2019 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO UN AU SU SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ASSURES SE GRATION OF GOS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING HUMANITARIAN OPERATING ENVIRONMENT REF: A. KHARTOUM 593 ¶B. KHARTOUM 589 ¶C. KHARTOUM 577 Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOS remains firmly committed to improving the operating environment for humanitarians, Presidential Advisor Dr. Ghazi Salaheddin told SE Gration at a meeting in Khartoum on May 7. Ghazi touted significant progress in the implementation of the negotiated framework agreement at both the national and state level, but acknowledged it would take time before the spirit of the agreement was embraced by all local authorities. On the peace process, Ghazi noted that the GOS was keen to sign a ceasefire with JEM, but was wary of releasing prisoners before one is reached, out of the fear that those freed will re-join JEM and resume hostilities. He also cautiously expressed support for SE Gration's proposal to employ a tripartite mechanism to address CPA implementation and re-energize the donor community to fulfill its CPA commitments. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ghazi began by affirming the GOS commitment to improving the operating environment for humanitarians pursuant to the framework understanding negotiated with SE Gration in early April. GOS Ministers are personally monitoring compliance with the agreement at the state level, he said, though he acknowledged there was still work to be done. "We need some time for the 'spirit' of the agreement to filter down to the lower echelons of authority," he remarked. He pledged that the GOS remains committed to improving its relationship with NGOs, and that he himself has been meeting with NGO representatives to hear their concerns. "We're looking positively and constructively at the work of NGOs, and are aware of their demands, particularly those for better protection" in the field in the wake of several kidnapping incidents, he said. As a result, the GOS has in turn decided to intensify efforts to provide a secure working environment for NGOs. Ghazi and SE Gration also discussed the legal mechanics of the arrangement to return operating capacity to Darfur, which ultimately resulted in an agreement to allow the three largest expelled US NGOs to provide their experience and resources to new or affiliated entities. (Note: The mechanics of this agreement have now been agreed upon as of May 10, and it will take several weeks for the "new" NGOs to return and several more weeks for them to begin work. The delay is due largely to the difficulty the NGO headquarters found in finding a legally-acceptable way to return and register. End note.) ¶3. (C) On the Darfur peace process, Ghazi expressed strong reservations about JEM's actual intentions at the latest round of talks in Doha. "We are very keen on a ceasefire," he said. "But JEM's intention is to get their prisoners released before committing to (a ceasefire.) That is unacceptable," he added, recalling how after the release of JEM combatants pursuant to the February 17 Goodwill Agreement, the former prisoners simply re-joined JEM and resumed hostilities towards the GOS. SE Gration clarified that the Goodwill Agreement called for Joint Chief Mediator Bassole and Qatari FM Mahmoud to come up with a timeline for a staggered prisoner release, with the last scheduled release coinciding with the signing of a permanent ceasefire. "What we need today is not releases, but a timeline," he said. SE Gration also noted the necessity of expanding the peace process beyond JEM to other viable movements and civil society groups if it was to bring peace and stability to Darfur. ¶4. (C) With regard to the proposed tripartite mechanism to address CPA implementation, Ghazi noted that the NCP has prepared a presentation for General Gration summarizing its latest impressions on CPA implementation in advance of a future SE meeting with Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha. SE Gration noted that he hopes to come back at the end of May to meet First Vice President Kiir and Second Vice President Taha, first separately and then together, to discuss CPA implementation. He also told Ghazi that he was seeking more involvement from the international community in this realm, and hoped to re-energize the donors on commitments made at the CPA signing. He then proposed that working in concert with Egypt and Kenya, a June summit be held at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm-al-Sheikh, to which Ghazi was initially receptive. KHARTOUM 00000640 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Comment: With regard to implementation of the NGO framework, significant progress at the field level remains to be verified and will require a little patience as the government strengthens the necessary mechanisms, builds internal capacity and ensures compliance within Darfur states. There have been several positive signs of implementation, including the government's issuance of several decrees on NGO operations, as well as the May 8 High Level Committee Meeting in Khartoum. Post will continue to closely monitor GOS compliance with the framework, in close coordination with the UN and other agencies. With regard to the peace process, GOS reservations about JEM's intentions at the latest round of Doha talks are well-founded. As a Chad-based movement that controls no real territory in Darfur, JEM has the little to gain (and the most to lose) from a ceasefire, which would nullify JEM's strongest asset: it's ability to pursue cross border attacks before retreating back along the border, and into the safety of Chadian territory. As such, JEM will likely attempt to obtain the maximum possible concessions in advance of signing such an agreement, and significant external pressure may be required to convince them to do so. ¶6. (U) SE Gration cleared this cable prior to transmission. FERNANDEZ