Cablegate: Amis Sees Kalma Disarmament As "Greatest Challenge"

VZCZCXRO0488
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1986/01 3470509
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130509Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9536
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001986

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU PHUM
SUBJECT: AMIS SEES KALMA DISARMAMENT AS "GREATEST CHALLENGE"

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In a December 11 meeting with the Charg
d'Affaires and USAID Mission Director, Nyala AMIS Deputy Sector
Commander and Deputy Chief Police Supervisor called the disarmament
of Kalma IDP camp the "greatest challenge" facing the Mission. The
Deputy Sector Commander mentioned the possibility of establishing
"safe corridors" and "buffer zones" to allow movement of arms from
the camp, a proposal that has not as yet been shared with the
humanitarian community (septel). The CDA stressed the importance of
the Government of Sudan (GoS) refraining from acting unilaterally
and forcing disarmament, and the USAID Mission Director asked about
UNAMID's role in securing IDP returns. AMIS Civpol warned that
forcible disarmament would serve only to erase the gains of the past
and jeopardize success for the future. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) Participants in separate December 10 Nyala meetings with
African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) Nyala Deputy Sector
Commander COL Dagabe and Deputy Chief Police Supervisor Sakoreed
were CDA Fernandez, USAID Sudan Mission Director Fleuret, USAID
Darfur Team Leader Khandagle, USAID Nyala FieldOff Richer, USAID El
Fasher FieldOff Stroschein and FieldOff (notetaker).

KALMA DISARMAMENT MUST FOLLOW ITS "NATURAL COURSE"
--------------------------------------------- -----
3. (SBU) In a December 10 meeting with CDA and USAID Mission
Director, AMIS Deputy Sector Commander (SC) reported the situation
in Kalma IDP camp to be "very volatile" after the discovery of arms
there. The CDA noted that any unilateral action by the GoS (namely
forcible disarmament by the Sudanese Armed Forces) that could give
the impression of an invasion of the camp and that could accordingly
inspire the rebel movements to retaliate must be avoided. The CDA
asked what AMIS' plan would be in the event that the African
Union-United Nations plan for voluntary disarmament failed.

4. (SBU) The Deputy SC responded that although the GoS had wanted to
disarm Kalma independent of AMIS, Kalma disarmament must "follow its
natural course," which should be in line the AU-UN plan and should
include "safe corridors" through which arms could be removed from
the camp in a given timeframe. The Deputy SC agreed with the CDA's
prediction that IDPs would hide their weapons in the camp during any
search, adding that the IDPs considered these weapons a necessity
against the threat posed by the continued presence of armed
janjaweed elements outside Kalma.

5. (SBU) The Civpol Deputy Supervisor added that the South Darfur
Wali's own plan for disarmament had completely contradicted that of
AMIS, labeling those with arms in the camp "criminals" to be
forcibly disarmed. He expressed hope that the GoS police would
exercise restraint rather try to assert itself in Kalma without
regard for collateral civilian damage: "Forcible disarmament only
makes people more volatile," he said, "and we will lose the gains of
the past" if this happens.

AMIS PROPOSES UNVETTED SOLUTION
-------------------------------
6. (SBU) The Deputy SC went on to say that the establishment of
"buffer zones" by UNAMID formed police units (FPUs) in which the
janjaweed could not attack civilians would be one way to address the
IDP fear of janjaweed reprisals. These zones, already mapped,
according to the Deputy SC, would be supplemented by 24/7 patrols by
police units within the camp, although these units had not yet
arrived. The Deputy SC mentioned that the concept had been raised
in a December 9 meeting with the Wali, who was uncomfortable with
night patrols and who had not approved the idea. In a separate
meeting with the CDA, however, the AMIS Civpol Deputy Supervisor
claimed no knowledge of this buffer zone plan, nor did
representatives of the Nyala humanitarian community (septel), who
are already leery of UN-AU intentions at Kalma.

7. (SBU) In addition to the challenge of Kalma, both AMIS
representatives agreed that other security risks in Nyala exist.
The Deputy SC flagged carjackings, banditry and shootings as
particularly problematic, resulting in a reduction of the curfew in
the town to 6 p.m. The Civpol Deputy Supervisor added that tribal
attacks, the presence of National Redemption Front rebels in
Haskanita and offensive GoS actions were taking their toll on the
humanitarian community in the region. The Civpol Deputy Supervisor
expected the overall situation to markedly improve once UNAMID
deployed, including resolution of the myriad logistical deficiencies
currently faced by his office.

8. (SBU) In the face of so insecure an environment and of unresolved
disputes over IDP lands, USAID Mission Director asked about the
likelihood of IDP returns and about UNAMID's protection role
therein. The Deputy SC expressed hope that the Mission would have
the capabilities to provide for safe voluntary returns, stressing
the importance of robustly implementing UNAMID's mandate in this
regard. He reiterated his belief that buffer zones would assist in
this provision of security; however, it remains to be seen how this

KHARTOUM 00001986 002 OF 002

plan will materialize and fit into overall existing humanitarian
operations.

9. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.

FERNANDEZ

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