DARFUR/SUDAN: ABDUL WAHID COMMANDERS READY FOR

UNCLAS LONDON 001674 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM MOPS SU CD UK SUBJECT: DARFUR/SUDAN: ABDUL WAHID COMMANDERS READY FOR ENGAGEMENT REF: A. NDJAMENA 269 ¶B. LONDON 933 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Following SE Gration's June meetings with Abdul Wahid al Nour's Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/AW) commanders in Chad (ref A),SLA/AW field commanders and political officers plan to force Abdul Wahid into engagement in the Darfur peace process, London-based SLA/AW representative Yahia Ahmed Elbashir told Poloff July 21. Commenting that Abdul Wahid "is still the President but does not control things," Elbashir said the international community has an opportunity to help bring Abdul Wahid to the negotiating table by continuing to engage forward-leaning field commanders like SLA/AW Commander in Chad Terrada, Mohammed Mahmoud, and Souman al-Zain and political officers like himself. They will plan to force Abdul Wahid to decide whether he wants to engage or to leave the movement, and Abdul Wahid "will never leave the movement." Elbashir said the movement's field commanders and political officers continue to discuss amongst themselves to build a united position. They will then force Abdul Wahid to begin engagement. Moving on from there, Elbashir said SLA/AW plans to build consensus with SLA/Unity and other factions, including Abdul Shafi, Hamza al-Barrack, and Ahmed Diriage. Elbashir requested SE Gration visit London to continue USG engagement with forward-leaning SLA/AW elements, which would strengthen their case when discussing with Abdul Wahid because of his growing isolation from his own movement. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Yahia Ahmed Elbashir, London-based representative of Abdul Wahid al Nour's Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/AW),told Polff July 21 that following SE Gration's June meeting with SLA/AW field commanders in Chad, the movement is ready to force Abdul Wahid al Nour to re-consider his non-engagement (ref A). With support from forward-leaning field commanders like SLA/AW Commander in Chad Terrada, Mohammed Mahmoud, and Souman al-Zain and political officers like himself, Elbashir said the international community could help force Abdul Wahid to a decision point through continued engagement with other senior SLA/AW representatives. Elbashir said field commanders are forming an administration committee to engage with the international community and force Abdul Wahid to a decision point by indicating that Abdul Wahid must participate in peace talks or leave the movement. Elbashir assessed it would take continued pressure from the field commanders and the international community to change Abdul Wahid's mind. Once Abdul Wahid realizes he no longer has the movement's support, Elbashir said, he will change his position because "there is no way he will leave the movement." The field commanders also do not intend to break away to form a separate group. ¶3. (SBU) Discussing next steps, Elbashir said the movement field commanders and political officers need to form a common position before approaching Abdul Wahid. After Abdul Wahid is on board, Elbashir said the movement will begin discussing with other Fur groups to build a consensus position among SLA/Unity and others, including Abdul Shafi, Hamza al-Barrack, and Ahmed Diriage. He said "all forms of engagement" would be possible, but noted that Doha "is a process and could have other venues beside Doha itself, including an African city like Addis Ababa or somewhere in Tanzania." He affirmed that the movement would engage with the peace process, which could ultimately lead to a ceasefire. ¶4. (SBU) Elbashir assessed it would be difficult to replace Abdul Wahid, as "that has been tried before and did not work," and the way forward would have to be bringing him in the fold. He seemed confident that would happen with the support of the now engagement-oriented field commanders and the international community. He requested SE Gration visit London to continue USG engagement with forward-leaning SLA/AW elements, which would strengthen their case when discussing with Abdul Wahid because of his growing isolation from his own movement. (NOTE: At present, Elbashir cannot leave the UK because he does not have an immigration status that allows him to depart and then return to the UK. END NOTE.) Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LeBaron