DARFUR SECURITY UPDATE: FIGHTING RESUMES IN JEBEL MARRA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000254 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PINR PREL ASEC SU CD SUBJECT: DARFUR SECURITY UPDATE: FIGHTING RESUMES IN JEBEL MARRA BETWEEN GOS AND SLA/AW; JEM ATTACKS ON JEBEL MOON REF: 10 KHARTOUM 102 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On February 10, intense fighting broke out between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) rebels in East Jebel Marra, according to UN and humanitarian sources. The scope of casualties and civilian displacement remains unknown, though the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) will attempt to undertake a previously-planned mission to the area during the week of February ¶14. Meanwhile in West Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has been launching attacks on SLA/AW positions in the Jebel Moon area since January 28, causing mass displacement of civilians from nearby villages. GOS aircraft have also been observed conducting aerial bombardment in the area targeting JEM movement. In South Darfur, Arab militiamen attacked Hajjar IDP camp near Kass on February 9 in apparent retaliation for the killing of one of their own. A UNAMID patrol reported burning and looting in the camp by Arab militia, though the situation is now calm following GOS intervention. End Summary. -------------- -------------- -------------- FIGHTING BREAKS OUT IN EAST JEBEL MARRA -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On the morning of February 10, humanitarian sources reported that intense fighting had broken out between SLA/AW and the GOS in the area of Kidingeer in East Jebel Marra (approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Deribat). The fighting reportedly expanded to the villages of Leiba (northwest of Kidingeer) and Fugoli that afternoon, and to the village of Kara on February 11. (Note: Kidingeer and Leiba are SLA/AW strongholds located at the base of Jebel Marra at low ground. End Note.) Casualties from either side remain unknown, though villagers and IDPs from Leiba, Feina, Dulda and Fugoli reportedly fled northward toward the hills of Jebel Marra to escape the fighting. Also on February 11, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) relocated 27 international NGO staff members from the Gurlambanj and Deribat to Nyala as a result of the fighting. ¶3. (SBU) Fighting between the GOS and SLA/AW in Eastern Jebel Marra reportedly continued on February 12 and 13. On February 14, UNAMID sources told poloff they received reports (yet to be confirmed) that SLA/AW claimed to have defeated GOS troops in Kara and pushed them out of Kidingeer. The status of a planned UNAMID visit to Deribat in East Jebel Marra during the week of February 14 remains unclear. It had been previously arranged with the consent of local SLA/AW commanders, but there is uncertainty if the latter will remain committed to UNAMID's visit in the wake of the fighting. (Note: UNAMID has had little to no access to SLA/AW areas in recent months due to the refusal of SLA/AW to allow UNAMID onto its territory. End Note.) -------------- -------------- JEM MAKES PUSH FOR JEBEL MOON -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In West Darfur, JEM forces have been attacking the Jebel Moon area since January 28, according to UN and rebel sources. On January 29, a UNAMID patrol in Sector West observed heavy firing and smoke from the direction of Jebel Moon, near Sileah. The team spoke with a local GOS military commander, who reported that JEM and SLA/Minnawi forces had been fighting in the area since January ¶28. (Note: in a February 6 meeting, former rebel leader Minni Minnawi told poloff (septel) that JEM has been sporadically attacking his forces in various locales, including Jebel Moon, since January 16. End Note.) ¶5. (SBU) On February 3, emboff spoke to Ibrahim Ahmed Nasir, an SLA/AW Commander in Jebel Moon, who affirmed that JEM had been attacking his forces in the Jebel Moon area since January 28. (Note: Historically a hotbed of rebel activity, the Jebel Moon area has hosted numerous rebel factions over the years. JEM maintained a base in Jebel Moon up until 2007, until it was pushed out by a GOS offensive. SLA/AW is known to have a longtime presence in the area, albeit a very small one. End note.) Nasir stated that JEM had launched its assault with a force of over 25 vehicles and had used 106mm mortars, 140mm artillery shells and 120mm rocket launchers in the attacks. He said he had refused to surrender despite numerous calls from JEM to do so. Nasir also said that what he claimed was KHARTOUM 00000254 002 OF 002 JEM's aggression had resulted in mass displacement and several civilian casualties. ¶6. (SBU) A UNAMID mission to nearby Sileah on February 6 spoke to local authorities and INGO representatives, who reported that nearly 4000 villagers were displaced as a result of the fighting between JEM and SLA/AW, which also resulted in the death of four civilians. It was also reported that JEM was vandalizing water installations as collective punishment for those who refused to enlist in the movement, and had arrested youth who resisted being recruited. A follow-on UNAMID patrol to Sileah on February 9 was stopped by suspected JEM fighters and prevented from proceeding when it was approximately six kilometers from the town. ¶7. UNAMID sources told poloff that they had also observed regular flyovers of Jebel Moon by GOS aircraft conducting reconnaissance and also engaged in sporadic bombing of JEM movement positions. While it is possible the GOS military could intervene and attempt to take control of Jebel Moon, UNAMID sources believed it was more likely that the GOS would wait to take action until after SLA/AW and JEM had become sufficiently weakened from fighting with each other. -------------- -------------- -------------- KILLING RESULTS IN MILITIA ATTACK ON KASS AREA IDP CAMP -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) On the evening of February 8, a uniformed Arab militiaman was shot dead by an unknown perpetrator, who stole his AK-47 rifle and allegedly fled towards Hajjar IDP camp in Kass, according to UNDSS sources. The following day armed relatives of the deceased, reportedly from the Taalba tribe, retaliated by attacking the camp. They burned and looted the camp marketplace until GOS security forces intervened. UNDSS reports that many people were arrested by GOS police, and that calm has been restored. A South Darfur State Security Committee led by the Wali convened shortly thereafter and blood money was paid to the deceased's family, further calming the situation. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The clashes in East Jebel Marra resurrect fears that the GOS may seek to consolidate territorial gains it has made over the past several months by enacting its long-rumored "five-point" plan for capturing the rebel-held mountain stronghold. With SLA/AW forces in Jebel Marra logistically-strained, internally-divided and weakened by violent infighting (reftel),the GOS military command may be seeking to exploit the situation by gaining a foothold in the area, starting with the low ground bases such as Kidingeer. While the mountainous terrain is no doubt forbidding, various unpaved roads do afford access in and out of the region. Due to the scarcity of information, however, it is unclear whether the fighting is indeed part of a coordinated air-ground attack aimed at taking Jebel Marra. JEM meanwhile continues to be a destabilizing force inside Darfur, and its quest to occupy and hold territory inside Sudan will likely continue to result in violence. WHITEHEAD