REPATRIATION OF SUDANESE NATIONAL FROM GUANTANAMO

S E C R E T STATE 115011 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KDRG SU SUBJECT: REPATRIATION OF SUDANESE NATIONAL FROM GUANTANAMO REF: A) 08 KHARTOUM 0362, B) 07 KHARTOUM 1783, C) 07 STATE 152279, D) 07 KHARTOUM 1601, E) 07 KHARTOUM 1465, F) 07 STATE 129835 Classified by S/GC Deputy Anthony Ricci for Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action message. Please see para 3-6. ¶2. (S) Sudanese national Mahmoud Idris (SU-036)is being considered for transfer from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to Sudan. Interagency members are considering factors such as GOS humane treatment and security assurances, as well as GOS willingness and ability to provide the appropriate medical care to Idris, who suffers from serious chronic mental illness. While no final decisions have been made, Department would like to obtain information on the above-mentioned issues, all of which are factors in the decision making process. ¶3. (S) Department requests that Post approach the appropriate GOS official to inform the government that Sudanese national Mahmoud Idris is under consideration for transfer from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to Sudan and the USG would like to know if the GOS is willing to accept him if he were to be approved for transfer. Post should then inform the GOS that Idris is suffering from serious chronic mental illness that requires regular medication and psychiatric care. We need to know from the GOS that they will arrange for the appropriate psychiatric care, including relevant medication, to ensure Idris' mental well-being and that he follows his medication regime regularly. ¶4. (C) Post RMO Dr. Behzad Shahbazian provided Department with a thorough summary of the availability of psychiatric care and medications relevant to Idris in Sudan. This summary is a good starting point for a discussion with the GOS on proposed care for Idris. ¶5. (S/REL) Post should draw from the points provided below in its approach to the GOS. (BEGIN POINTS) --The USG is deliberating whether to transfer Sudanese national Mahmoud Idris from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to Sudan. A number of factors are still being considered. --Should a decision be made to transfer him from Guantanamo, we would like to know if your government is willing to accept him for repatriation to Sudan. --As you are aware, a number of Sudanese nationals have been returned to Sudan from Guantanamo Bay based on a bilateral detainee transfer framework finalized in 2007. The humane treatment assurances and security measures outlined in the framework formed the basis for the transfer of Mustafa Ibrahim in October 2008. We believe it remains a suitable framework for detainee returns from Guantanamo. --The case of Mahmoud Idris requires special consideration, as he suffers from chronic mental illness that requires him to take a number of medications on a regular basis. --Appropriate psychiatric care for Mahmoud Idris is a concern of the USG. We believe that a successful repatriation for Mahmoud Idris is contingent upon his ability to receive psychiatric care to ensure his mental well-being and ensure that he follows his regime of medication regularly. --Given this special consideration for Mahmoud Idris, we would like to know how your government would envision providing care for Mr. Idris. --We understand that a large part of Mahmoud Idris' successful return and recovery will entail strong family involvement in addition to care and medication. --We will keep you informed of developments regarding the decision on transfer of Mahmoud Idris. In the meantime, we look forward to meeting again to discuss with you plans for his psychiatric treatment. We also would like to reaffirm with your government the continued application of the 2007 detainee transfer framework. ¶6. (U) The Department requests Post seek a meeting with the appropriate Sudanese government interlocutors as soon as practicable and report on Sudan's assurances to provide appropriate care for Mr. Idris by November 11, if possible. CLINTON