CDA'S COURTESY CALL ON DUP LEADER AL MIRGHANI

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000735 DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/C, AF/E NSC FOR MGAVIN DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SOCI ASEC KDEM AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: CDA'S COURTESY CALL ON DUP LEADER AL MIRGHANI ¶1. SUMMARY. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mohammed Osman al Mirghani complained to Charge Whitehead that the two CPA partners are ignoring the concerns of Sudan's other political groups. Despite this, Mirgahani seemed unable to articulate a clear strategy of how the DUP might compete in the coming elections. This indecision appears common to all of Sudan's opposition parties. Only the NCP seems confident it can win through patronage and partnerships. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On June 7, CDA Whitehead paid a courtesy call on DUP leader Mirghani at the latter's residence. Charge Whitehead asked for Mirghani's assessment of the current political situation in Sudan and the DUP's plans for the scheduled 2010 elections and afterwards. In response, Mirghani expressed disappointment that the DUP and other traditional Sudanese parties are not included in Sudan's Government of National Unity (GNU). He complained the DUP is largely ignored by both the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). Sudan "now has two masters, one in Khartoum and one in Juba," he stated. ¶3. (SBU) According to Mirghani, the late SPLM leader John Garang had consulted with Mirghani during the Naivasha peace negotiations in ¶2004. Mirghani said that he had argued for a GNU in which all parties equally participated, but that in the end, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) had been negotiated bilaterally between the NCP and SPLM, to the exclusion of the other parities. Mirghani also referred to the inter-party "Framework Agreement" negotiated in Cairo in 2005 under the sponsorship of Egypt. Mirghani complained that Egypt failed to follow-up after the Agreement was signed, and that it too was never implemented. Since then, the DUP has been ignored by the two CPA partners. ¶4. (SBU) Mirghani is also the hereditary leader of the Khatmiyya Sufi order. Asked about the relationship between the DUP and Khatimiyya, Mirghani explained they are separate entities. He emphasized that the Khatimiyya embody "moderate Islam," reflecting the Sufi dedication to tolerance and nonviolence. While reflecting these same ideals, the DUP, he maintained, is broader than the Khatimiyya order and includes many Sudanese Christians. Mirghani argued that the DUP is the majority party in Sudan, noting that it had won the popular vote in every election from Sudan's 1956 independence until a coup brought the National Islamic Front to power in 1989. ¶5. (SBU) Asked by the Charge for his views on the DUP's future electoral prospects, Mirghani replied that while the DUP is not afraid of the 2010 elections, preparations are starting from the wrong point. The DUP has submitted its recommendations to the National Election Commission. He complained that the rules being drafted for the elections will unfairly favor the NCP. For example, he said that many potential voters will be discouraged from voting by having to pay for the required identity card. He added the NCP plans to pay the cost of ID cards for its supporters, giving it an advantage. The NCP is unilaterally pushing through rules such as this that favor it, he charged. If they are to be kept honest, all of Sudan's parties need to be included in planning the elections. He emphasized that the DUP had spurned the NCP's proposal to partner with the DUP in the coming elections. He said that the people of Sudan deserve a clear choice of who will govern them, rather than having this decided over their heads. Asked if the DUP would join the NCP in a coalition after the election, Mirghani replied that it expects to win the elections outright. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Mirghani seemed much more comfortable describing the DUP's history and past achievements than in articulating a clear vision of its goals or future role. Based on his responses, the DUP appears to lack any clear strategy on how it will compete in the national elections, now scheduled for April 2010. The party instead appears stuck in a rut, complaining that it does not have a seat at the existing table. Unfortunately, the DUP is by no means alone in this. Even the SPLM is undecided about whether it will seriously contest next year's elections or focus instead on the 2011 referendum on southern independence. Only the NCP appears to be focused on the elections and confident that it can win, largely by controlling constituencies through patronage and partnering with elements of the political opposition. WHITEHEAD