VZCZCXRO4546
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1368/01 2421432
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301432Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8350
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001368
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO AU UN US SU
SUBJECT: AMIS CEASEFIRE COMMISSION STILL HAMPERED BY SLA/MM
NO-SHOWS OVER MSA, LITTLE OF SUBSTANCE DONE
REF: Khartoum 1289
Sontag/Small/Goosey Email
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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Although the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)/Minawi
representatives attended the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) meetings at
the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) headquarters in El Fasher,
the majority of their representatives in the sectors stayed off the
job, despite instructions to return to work. Although much of the
discussions in both chambers was spent bickering over the monthly
subsistence allowance (MSA), the report on the Labado incident was
adopted and the CFC members the Kalma IDP Camp incursion. S/CRS
Fieldoffs again stressed to the SLA/Minawi head representative that
the no-shows in the face of Minawi's promise that they would return
reflects negatively on movement. End summary.
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WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE NO-SHOWS?
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2. (SBU) Despite Minni Minawi's pledge that his representatives
would participate in AMIS CFC and patrolling activities, the vast
majority of the SLA/Minawi representatives did not show up for work
this week. The SLA/Minawi representatives in El Fasher attended,
along with a few in one of the eight sectors. In addition to
Minawi's promise that they would return to work, the senior CFC
representative had also issued a directive to the other
representatives to return to work (Ref A). However, some field
representatives responded to AMIS that they only follow orders from
SLA/Minawi General Commander Jumah Hagar, not from their senior CFC
representative. One field representative said his local commander
had directed him not to resume his duties before August 31, when he
expected the MSA issue to be resolved.
3. (SBU) S/CRS Fieldoffs met with the senior SLA/Minawi CFC
representative, Adam Ali War, several times in the past week to
encourage him to get the other representatives back to work. S/CRS
Fieldoffs pointed out two key negative consequences for SLA/Minawi
as a result of the continuing no-show: It raises doubts as to how
much control Minawi has over his own people and portrays the
representatives as more interested in money than in the work of the
CFC.
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HAVE AN MSA CONFERENCE, AND PUT IT TO BED
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4. (SBU) S/CRS Fieldoffs also encouraged Ali War to have Minawi
follow through on his proposal to have a conference with AMIS, the
MSA donors, and SLA/Minawi to clear the air about the MSA reduction.
A conference might emphasize that the MSA is an allowance, not a
salary; that it will stay reduced until December; and that it will
stop when the UN takes over. A conference might put the issue to
rest, as well as demonstrate (as most CFC members and observers have
been saying all along) that the MSA reduction is a political issue
that should not be discussed in the CFC forum.
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RELATED COMPLAINTS
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5. (SBU) The SLA/Minawi representatives also complained about a lack
of communication and transportation support, although the Chairman
reminded them that AMIS itself is lacking such resources. The
non-signatory factions (NSF) in the Second Chamber made similar
complaints (Note: In addition, they also complained about no longer
being provided with water by PA Ref B. We were also asked for
help with tents and mattresses. End Note.).
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SUBSTANTIVE CFC MATTERS
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6. (SBU) The First Chamber voted to forward a report to the Joint
Commission on the Um Zeifa Road Traffic Accident (RTA) that occurred
near Labado, South Darfur in May. In that unfortunate incident, a
negligent AMIS APC driver collided with an SLA/Minawi vehicle,
killing its driver. The SLA/Minawi members then shot and wounded
several AMIS troop, and seized thirteen vehicles and several
weapons. The report found that the AMIS driver was negligent and
AMIS should pay compensation but that the SLA/Minawi troops then
violated ceasefire rules.
KHARTOUM 00001368 002 OF 002
7. (SBU) On the evening of August 20, the Sudanese Government raided
the Kalma IDP Camp in South Darfur, allegedly searching for the
perpetrators of an attack on a police station the previous week in
which one Sudanese officer was killed. The police claim they
arrested 19 persons and seized five weapons from the camp. Several
rebel leaders have condemned the raid on the IDP camp in the press,
and it was raised at the CFC as well. The Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM) representative blamed both the Government and
SLA/Minawi, claiming the only armed people in the IDP camp were
Janjaweed collaborators and that the Government was trying to close
down or drive IDPs away from the camp. He also hoped for the CFC to
visit the camp, and, surprisingly, said that AMIS should take over
more IDP camp security. The Chairman responded that the Sector
Commander would look into the matter.
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COMMENT
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8. (SBU) The continued absence of the SLA/Minawi representatives in
the field is still a problem. A meeting among SLA/Minawi, the
donors, and AMIS about the MSA could at least put that particular
issue to rest. However, the continued absence, despite Minawi and
the SLA/Minawi senior representative's directives, highlight the
limits of Minawi's control over his own faction, as well as an
unclear chain of command within the movement. End comment.
FERNANDEZ