LIBYAN FM SUPPORTS RELOCATING DOHA PEACE PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000374

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/E, AF/PDPA,
IIP/G/AF, RRU-AF, DRL/RSPRING
NSC FOR MGAVIN
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC
SUBJECT: LIBYAN FM SUPPORTS RELOCATING DOHA PEACE PROCESS
TO DARFUR

Classified By: Classified by CDA John Yates for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)



SUMMARY
--------------

1. (C) During a February 1 meeting with U.S. Special Envoy
to Sudan Gration, Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa said that
Darfur's rebels had been spoiled by media attention and their
plush lifestyles in Qatar. He advocated moving Darfur peace
talks from Doha to Darfur, bringing in a specialized team of
regional players to observe the process, but making the
Government of Sudan interact directly with the parties and
shoulder more responsibility. He described Darfur as an
Islamic struggle between President Omar el-Bashir and Hassan
al-Turabi, from which JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim emerging as
an ambitious side player worth engaging. End Summary.


2. (SBU) U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan General J. Scott
Gration travelled to Addis Ababa from January 27-February 2,
2010 to attend the AU Summit with the U.S. delegation.

On Darfuri Rebels in Doha: "Money Spoils the
Individuals"
--------------

3. (C) FM Musa began by discussing the reasons why the
Darfur peace talks were not succeeding. He said that the
Darfuri rebels, having found themselves in five-star hotels
and in front of cameras, are using the peace talks as a way
to earn a living. In his experience with rebel movements,
Musa said, "money spoils the individuals." Abdul Wahid has
used Darfur as a personal platform, speaking like an
official, holding meetings, appearing on television and
al-Jazeera, and building a "larger-than-life personality."
When NGOs come into Darfur, Musa said, they side with the
Darfuri parties. As a result, Musa believed, the rebels feel
they have international support behind them, which increases
the ceiling of negotiations. Musa also faulted the Qataris'
approach, calling it a "media show."

Moving Darfur Peace Talks to Darfur
--------------

4. (C) Eschewing Doha, Musa believed there was "no
alternative place" to holding Darfur peace talks than in
Darfur. He envisioned that a "specialized team" of regional
players-including Libya, Egypt, the United States, and the
United Nations-who understand the area and the mentality of
the people would observe the process. At its core, he
believed the Government of Sudan should negotiate directly
with the parties because "the Government has responsibility
and should shoulder it." Musa also stated that those hurting
the cause for peace should be punished, and specifically that
Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir and rebels "not
contributing to the solution" should be sanctioned. Musa
said he told the French that they were contributing to the
problem by harboring Abdul Wahid. Finally, he said the
Chad-Sudan border agreement of 15 January should be
encouraged.

Khalil's Ambitions and Turabi vs. Bashir;
Gosh to "Retire Quietly"
--------------

5. (C) Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil
Ibrahim, Musa said, has an Islamist ideology, money, and
national agenda propelling his desire to take Bashir's place.
Moreover, Musa said, he's not alone; Musa believed that
Khalil was part of National Islamic Front leader Hassan
al-Turabi's organization. "What happened in Darfur," Musa
said, "is a struggle between Bashir and Turabi," and Turabi
maneuvered Khalil in Darfur by making it "the other side's
battle, not his." Musa said that the Special Envoy could
empower himself by talking to Khalil, but that if he talks,
the SE should "talk to him strongly."


6. (C) Discussing internal Sudanese politics, Musa stated
that former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh played a

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disruptive role on the Chad/Sudan border. Gosh, Musa said,
was his friend but that his replacement, Mohammad Attah, "was
better." Musa predicted that Gosh would "retire quietly."

Southern Sudan and "the Heart of the
African Problem"
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7. (C) Musa said that the South had inflamed Darfur by
coordinating with Kenya to funnel arms into Darfur when
problems started there. He said that there is great risk in
Southern independence, and that the South will be at the
mercy of other nations, such as Kenya, because they lack the
resources to make a state. The FM said that Sudan is the
border point between "black and white, Islam and other
religions," which Musa concluded, is "the heart of the
African problem."

Participants in Foreign Minister
Musa Kusa Meeting:
--------------

8. (U) General J, Scott Gration, U.S. special Envoy to Sudan
Cameron Hudson, Director of Operations, Office of the U.S.
Special Envoy to Sudan
Miriam Estrin, Special Assistant to the Special Envoy, Office
of the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan
Kathryn Pongonis, Deputy Political/Economic Counselor, U.S.
Embassy Addis Ababa


9. (U) SE Gration's Office has cleared on this cable.
YATES