VZCZCXRO3600
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0944/01 2280801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160801Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4260
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000944
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI EAID AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: SOUTH KORDOFAN'S ICC-INDICTED GOVERNOR SEEKS TO ENSURE
PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
REF: A) Khartoum 768, B) Khartoum 642, C) Khartoum 625
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. South Kordofan's ICC-indicted Governor, Ahmed
Mohamed Haroun (NCP) and his SPLM deputy, Abdel Aziz Al Helou, asked
international donors on August 8 for humanitarian and development
assistance in delivering a peace dividend to the people of their
state. They described a newly created Council of Elders as a
consultative body to help the government avoid conflict and a
Reconciliation and Peaceful Coexistence Mechanism (RPCM) to both
resolve existing conflicts and diffuse possible conflicts. Haroun
also promised to do "what was in his power" to ease donor and NGO
access to travel permits for his state. While the latest
initiatives in South Kordofan offer the best hope of progress in
years, the short time available makes meaningful progress prior to
elections uncertain. END SUMMARY
Rapid Help from Donors Sought
-----------------------------
2. (SBU) Governor of South Kordofan and International Criminal
Court-indictee, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun (NCP), stated that the people
of South Kordofan have suffered greatly, especially after the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005. Haroun
listed a number of areas on which he seeks help from donors,
including reconciliation, integration, institutional capacity
building, strengthening police and Joint Integrated Units, improving
roads and infrastructure, mine removal, poverty reduction, and
disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Haroun noted that
the people of South Kordofan have not experienced the anticipated
peace dividends from the CPA. He stated that the working
environment in South Kordofan is now secure and under a unified
government, but with only eight months before elections, rapid help
from donors is needed to maintain hope, and thereby peace, among the
people.
3. (SBU) Abdel Aziz Al Helou, Deputy Governor of South Kordofan,
(SPLM) supported Haroun's call for urgent action. Al Helou stated
that his government wants to "compensate" the people for the four
years lost to struggle between the National Congress Party (NCP) and
the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). Al Helou further
stated that the people of South Kordofan must be educated about the
elections for the elections to work and not turn violent. He added
that the people of South Kordofan must see the benefits of the CPA,
because "otherwise there is no way to know what the people will do
in the Popular Consultations."
Consultation, Reconciliation Tools Created
------------------------------------------
4. (U) Al Helou noted that, in order to reduce conflict, in July his
government created a "Council of Elders" for South Kordofan with
which the state government would consult. The Council's sixty
members represent a broad spectrum of people with influence in South
Kordofan, including intellectuals and opposition party leaders. Al
Helou stated that the Council is doing its best, but that it needs
more support from the donor community.
5. (SBU) In July the Government of South Kordofan also established a
team of nine people called the Reconciliation and Peaceful
Coexistence Mechanism (RPCM). At a meeting with the Three Areas
Donors Steering Committee on August 9, Osman Gadim Ahmad, the RPCM's
newly-appointed head, stated that the RPCM's purpose is to help
implement the CPA by increasing peace and stability in South
Kordofan. Ahmad views the RPCM's role as an independent arbiter of
disputes and promoter of reconciliation. (NOTE: While Ahmad
recognizes that the government established the RPCM and pays its
salaries, he stated that the RPCM is independent and that the
government will not interfere with its activities. END NOTE.)
Ahmad also intends the RPCM to be a bridge between donors and NGOs
interested in aiding reconciliation, and existing political, civic,
religious, native and educational groups in South Kordofan. Members
of the Steering Committee expressed support for the RPCM. Ahmad
shared his proposed start-up budget of SDG 809,208 with the Steering
Committee, and said he welcomed international donor assistance.
Governor to Help On Visas
-------------------------
6. (SBU) Regarding the Popular Consultations called for by the CPA
and scheduled for 2011, PolOff asked whether the Governor believes
that national legislation is necessary to conduct the consultations
in his state. Haroun stated that his government and the Government
of Sudan were still discussing the issue. (NOTE: In July trilateral
talks, NCP and SPLM officials agreed to make the determination as to
the necessity of national legislation by July 30. END NOTE.)
KHARTOUM 00000944 002 OF 002
Members of the Steering Committee expressed concern about
difficulties experienced by NGOs and donors in getting travel
permits in connection with their work in South Kordofan. Haroun
said he recognized that these issues exist and stated that he would
do what was in his power to make the provision of aid in South
Kordofan easier.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: While Haroun's cooperation with his SPLM deputy,
the new reconciliation and consultation mechanisms, and Haroun's
promise to facilitate requested aid in his state are all hopeful
signs, it remains to the seen whether enough meaningful progress can
be made in the short timeframe before elections. END COMMENT.
WHITEHEAD