SOUTH KORDOFAN'S ICC-INDICTED GOVERNOR SEEKS TO ENSURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000944 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI EAID AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SOUTH KORDOFAN'S ICC-INDICTED GOVERNOR SEEKS TO ENSURE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS REF: A) Khartoum 768, B) Khartoum 642, C) Khartoum 625 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. South Kordofan's ICC-indicted Governor, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun (NCP) and his SPLM deputy, Abdel Aziz Al Helou, asked international donors on August 8 for humanitarian and development assistance in delivering a peace dividend to the people of their state. They described a newly created Council of Elders as a consultative body to help the government avoid conflict and a Reconciliation and Peaceful Coexistence Mechanism (RPCM) to both resolve existing conflicts and diffuse possible conflicts. Haroun also promised to do "what was in his power" to ease donor and NGO access to travel permits for his state. While the latest initiatives in South Kordofan offer the best hope of progress in years, the short time available makes meaningful progress prior to elections uncertain. END SUMMARY Rapid Help from Donors Sought -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Governor of South Kordofan and International Criminal Court-indictee, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun (NCP),stated that the people of South Kordofan have suffered greatly, especially after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005. Haroun listed a number of areas on which he seeks help from donors, including reconciliation, integration, institutional capacity building, strengthening police and Joint Integrated Units, improving roads and infrastructure, mine removal, poverty reduction, and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Haroun noted that the people of South Kordofan have not experienced the anticipated peace dividends from the CPA. He stated that the working environment in South Kordofan is now secure and under a unified government, but with only eight months before elections, rapid help from donors is needed to maintain hope, and thereby peace, among the people. ¶3. (SBU) Abdel Aziz Al Helou, Deputy Governor of South Kordofan, (SPLM) supported Haroun's call for urgent action. Al Helou stated that his government wants to "compensate" the people for the four years lost to struggle between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). Al Helou further stated that the people of South Kordofan must be educated about the elections for the elections to work and not turn violent. He added that the people of South Kordofan must see the benefits of the CPA, because "otherwise there is no way to know what the people will do in the Popular Consultations." Consultation, Reconciliation Tools Created -------------- ¶4. (U) Al Helou noted that, in order to reduce conflict, in July his government created a "Council of Elders" for South Kordofan with which the state government would consult. The Council's sixty members represent a broad spectrum of people with influence in South Kordofan, including intellectuals and opposition party leaders. Al Helou stated that the Council is doing its best, but that it needs more support from the donor community. ¶5. (SBU) In July the Government of South Kordofan also established a team of nine people called the Reconciliation and Peaceful Coexistence Mechanism (RPCM). At a meeting with the Three Areas Donors Steering Committee on August 9, Osman Gadim Ahmad, the RPCM's newly-appointed head, stated that the RPCM's purpose is to help implement the CPA by increasing peace and stability in South Kordofan. Ahmad views the RPCM's role as an independent arbiter of disputes and promoter of reconciliation. (NOTE: While Ahmad recognizes that the government established the RPCM and pays its salaries, he stated that the RPCM is independent and that the government will not interfere with its activities. END NOTE.) Ahmad also intends the RPCM to be a bridge between donors and NGOs interested in aiding reconciliation, and existing political, civic, religious, native and educational groups in South Kordofan. Members of the Steering Committee expressed support for the RPCM. Ahmad shared his proposed start-up budget of SDG 809,208 with the Steering Committee, and said he welcomed international donor assistance. Governor to Help On Visas -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Regarding the Popular Consultations called for by the CPA and scheduled for 2011, PolOff asked whether the Governor believes that national legislation is necessary to conduct the consultations in his state. Haroun stated that his government and the Government of Sudan were still discussing the issue. (NOTE: In July trilateral talks, NCP and SPLM officials agreed to make the determination as to the necessity of national legislation by July 30. END NOTE.) KHARTOUM 00000944 002 OF 002 Members of the Steering Committee expressed concern about difficulties experienced by NGOs and donors in getting travel permits in connection with their work in South Kordofan. Haroun said he recognized that these issues exist and stated that he would do what was in his power to make the provision of aid in South Kordofan easier. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: While Haroun's cooperation with his SPLM deputy, the new reconciliation and consultation mechanisms, and Haroun's promise to facilitate requested aid in his state are all hopeful signs, it remains to the seen whether enough meaningful progress can be made in the short timeframe before elections. END COMMENT. WHITEHEAD