GOS/JEM CLASHES, AERIAL BOMBING SOUTH OF EL FASHER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000095 DEPT FOR AF A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AF/C ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: GOS/JEM CLASHES, AERIAL BOMBING SOUTH OF EL FASHER REF: A) KHARTOUM 92 B) KHARTOUM 83 ¶1. (SBU) Apparently in an effort to r%pel JEM vEhicles, GOS airplanes conducted aerial bombings January 26 in areas south of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state. The bombing occurred in close proximity to Zam Zam IDP camp, approximately 20 km from the North Darfur capital. UN and NGO sources have confirmed that no bombs were dropped on Zam Zam camp, contrary to early rumors. Zam Zam camp has traditionally been a Zaghawa stronghold of SLM/MM leader Minni Minawi. Minawi's phones were turned off throughout the day (Minawi is currently in El Fasher). ¶2. (SBU) UNAMID reported that the GOS bombed an area approximately 20 km southwest of El Fasher beginning at 11:30 a.m., reportedly to impede the movement of a 100-vehicle JEM convoy toward Zam Zam camp, according to UNAMID's GOS sources. By mid-afternoon, there were no reports of bombings, fighting or casualties within Zam Zam IDP camp (which houses approximately 54,000 IDPs) but estimates of causalities have yet to emerge from rural areas. INGOs operating in the area reported large numbers of IDPs fleeing the fighting from areas south of El Fasher. ¶3. (SBU) Verifiable information at this early stage is elusive (as usual immediately following an escalation in violence, and NGO/UN lockdown, there is currently a plethora of contradictory information). However, several sources have indicated that a significant JEM convoy numbering up to 200 (or 100 according to other sources) vehicles was returning from last week's clashes with SLA/MM in Muhajeriya and Gereida, in South Darfur, when a SAF military convoy attacked the rebel formation eight to ten kilometers s/uth of Zam Zam camp. A UNDSS national officer reported clashes between JEM and GOS forces in the villages of Launa, Katal, Wadaa, Abu Deleieg and Dar Al Salaam, all located east of Zam Zam IDP camp. ¶4. (SBU) INGOs and UN agencies shuttered their offices for the day as Sudanese authorities quickly positioned armed personnel carriers and tanks at various points in town fearing a long-expected rebel assault on the city. MIGs, MI-24 helicopter gunships, and Antonov improvised bombers were reported departing El Fasher airport throughout the morning. At noon Sudanese authorities closed El Fasher airport to commercial flights and asked all UN personnel to leave the airport for security reasons. UNAMID personnel and a large delegation from DFID visitors remain locked down at the UNAMID compound. No official American personnel are curently in El Fasher, as a result of the Embassy's policy of only sending official personnel to Darfur for short visits. However, the Embassy does havelocal FSN staff in El Fasher at our temporary residences. ¶5. (SBU) The Embassy issued a warden message to all American citizens in Sudan the afternoon of January 26 informing them of this most recent bombing and the closure of the airport in El Fasher. Post will continue to monitor the situation and will provide a more expansive report as more information becomes available. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: As reported in reftels, the bold attempt, beginning on January 15, by the JEM rebel group to expand its sway deep inside Darfur at the expense of the GOS and of rival Darfuri rebel groups (especially Minawi's SLM),has now lead to generalized bombing by SAF to blunt this effort. End comment. FERNANDEZ