CONVERSATION WITH FORMER PM SADIQ AL MAHDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 02961


E.0.12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PREL PINR PHUM PREF ET SU
SUBJECT: CONVERSATION WITH FORMER PM SADIQ AL MAHDI


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. SUMMARY: AMBASSADOR CALLED ON FORMER PRIME
MINISTER SADIQ AL MAHDI JUNE 26. SADIQ DESCRIBED THE
CURRENT GOVERNMENT AS HAVING THE WORST
CHARACTERISTICS OF DICTATORSHIP AND A COALITION
GOVERNMENT. THE GOS, HE SAID, IS FAILING DISMALLY
ECONOMICALLY AND CAUSING THE PEOPLE GREAT SUFFERING.
THE SEPTEMBER LAWS, HE DECLARED, MUST GO. PEACE AND
A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT CAN STOP THE SUDAN FROM BEING
A "MAVERICK" COUNTRY. (COMMENT: FOR THE FUTURE, IT
APPEARS THAT SADIQ WILL WAIT ON THE SIDELINES AS THE
AL BASHIR GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ITS DOWNWARD ECONOMIC
PLUNGE. HE WILL THEN BE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP THE
PIECES. END COMMENT)


3. AT THE INVITATION OF SADIQ AL MAHDI AMBASSADOR
CALLED ON HIM JUNE 26. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS
COMFORTABLE AND THE CONVERSATION RELAXED. DCM
ATTENDED, SADIQ WAS NOT ACCOMPANIED.


THE GOVERNMENT
--------------


4. SADIQ DESCRIBED THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT AS HAVING
THE WORST CHARACTERISTICS OF A DICTATORSHIP AND A
COALITION GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, IS
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE NIP UNDER HASSAN TURABI AND THE
ARMY, THOUGH HE IMPLIED THAT THE NIF HAD THE UPPER
HAND NOW. HASSAN TURABI, SADIQ SAID, IS NOT A TRUE
ISLAMIST BUT ONE WHO USED ISLAM FOR THE POLITICAL
BENEFIT. SADIQ COMMENTED THAT HE HAD BEEN VISITED BY
MEMBERS OF THE NIP (ALI OSMAN TAHA AND IBRAHIM MAHDI
AMONG OTHERS) WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SECURING HIS
SUPPORT. HE COMMENTED THE NIF HAD DIVISIONS AND
TURABI WAS AWARE OF THEM. PRESIDENT AL BASHIR HAD
ALSO VISITED HIM ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION TO DISCUSS
POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT/SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT,
SADIQ SAID. SADIQ SPOKE WELL OF THE HONESTY OF AL
BASHIR BUT WAS LESS THAN COMPLIMENTARY REGARDING HIS
INTELLECTUAL ABILITY.


5. SADIQ WAS VISIBLY UPSET WITH WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS
THE GOS DISMAL ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE WHICH HE
EMPHASIZED IS CAUSING PEOPLE GREAT SUFFERING. HE
ALSO CONDEMNED THE GOS FOR NOT REQUESTING
INTERNATIONAL AID FOR THE FAMINE VICTIMS AS HE HAD
DONE WHEN HE WAS PRIME MINISTER. AMBASSADOR AND
SADIQ AGREED THAT THE NIF, SPECIFICALLY HASSAN
TURABI, OPPOSED RELIEF AID EVEN IF ITS LACK WOULD
CAUSE THE DEATHS OF SUDANESE PEOPLE.


PEACE
--------------


6. SADIQ APPRECIATED USG PEACE EFFORTS. HE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AT TIMES PROGRESS COULD NOT BE SEEN
BUT HE SAID THE USG MUST PERSEVERE IN THESE EFFORTS.
IT WAS ONLY A "GREAT POWER" LIKE THE UNITED STATES
WHICH COULD MOVE BOTH SIDES TOWARD PEACE. PEACE
REQUIRED A PLURALISTIC, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WHICH
RESPECTED HUMAN RIGHTS. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION,
SADIQ SAID THE SEPTEMBER LAWS "MUST GO". AMBASSADOR
PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON USG PEACE EFFORTS AND GAVE A
COPY OF A/S COHEN'S SPEECH ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
SADIQ REEMPHASIZED THAT PEACE AND A DEMOCRATIC,
PLURALISTIC GOVERNMENT WOULD KEEP THE SUDAN FROM
TURNING INTO A "MAVERICK COUNTRY". PEACE WOULD ALSO
ALLOW SUDAN TO HAVE NORMAL RELATIONS WITH ITS
NEIGHBORS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.


7. COMMENT: SADIQ SAID MANY THINGS WHICH HE KNEW THE
USG SUPPORTS. HE IS IN FAVOR OF COOPERATION ON
RELIEF, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND A PLURALISTIC DEMOCRATIC
SOCIETY. IN SUPPORT OF THE LATTER, IS HIS STATEMENT
THAT THE SEPTEMBER LAWS MUST GO.


8. SADIQ'S ASSERTION THAT HE IS BEING VISITED BY THE
NIF AND OTHERS LOOKING FOR HIS SUPPORT IS TRUE.
SADIQ IS A WILY AND UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIAN. HE IS
POSITIONING HIMSELF IN THE EVENT THAT THIS GOVERNMENT
FALLS. ONE SHOULD NOT TAKE HIS STATEMENT ON THE
SEPTEMBER LAWS AT FACE VALUE; HE DID NOT SAY HE
WANTED A SECULAR STATE. SADIQ COULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT. HIS OPPOSITION TO
THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOCTRINE, IT IS OVER WHO HAS
POWER.


CHEEK