Cablegate: Sudan/Darfur: Cfc Meeting in El Fasher

VZCZCXRO1219
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1428/01 1670942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160942Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3278
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001428

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN GROUP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF SOCI UN AU SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: CFC Meeting in El Fasher
(Corrected copy)

1. (SBU) Summary and background: On June 13, the Darfur
Ceasefire Commission (CFC) met in El Fasher, Darfur, the
first meeting following the May 5 signing of the Darfur
Peace Agreement (DPA). Para 2 presents the notes of Lt.
Col. Lee Manning, the U.S. CFC Observer; para 3 is the
text of the June 13 press release on the CFC meeting as
released by AMIS. AU Special representative Baba Gana
Kingibe chaired the meeting, which included the
participation of UN US/G for Peacekeeping Operations
Guehenno and AU/PS&C Commissioner Djinnit. The meeting
included presentations of positions of various
participants, as well as discussion on assistance to AMIS
and modalities for a transition to a UN peacekeeping
operation. The meeting also focused on the need to
restore security in Darfur, and for those groups that had
not yet signed the DPA to do so. The meeting underscored
that the CFC covered both the Humanitarian Ceasefire
Agreement as well as the DPA; non-signatories to the DPA
participated. AU SR Kingibe closed by noting that the
Joint Commission should be inaugurated before the July 1-
2 AU Summit in Banjul. End summary and background.

2. (SBU) Lt. Col. Manning's notes are as follows:

This was the inaugural meeting of the CFC under the terms
of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). The meeting was
attended by the HOM, DHOM, FC, DFC, Vice Chairman,
warring party members, GOS, CFC members, UN members, and
the press.
Phase I was a closed meeting attended by the CFC members
only - no press or outside individuals. The following
topics were discussed during this phase of the meeting:
A. The first topic discussed regarded any assistance
that can be given to AMIS to help with accomplishing the
mission. The modalities for transition of the mission
from AMIS to the United Nations was discussed. There
were no definite solutions to either of these topics.
B. The DPA (2006) and HCFA (2004) were discussed. The
general direction of the discussions was that the goal of
all agreements was to create a secure environment in
which NGOs can operate, lessen the tensions between the
parties of the conflict, and attempt to resolve
differences within the parties. The point was made by
the HOM that by attending the meeting the SLA/Wahid
representatives and JEM representatives were not
committing their parties to the provisions of the DPA;
they were gathering information for the memberships. The
process of committing to the provisions of the DPA was
for politicians and political discussions at the Joint
Commission level. The HOM suggested that during CFC
meetings under the DPA that the SLA/Wahid and JEM
representatives sit in as observers so as to be aware of
the current business under discussion and report this to
their parties.
C. The SLA/Wahid and JEM representatives (Col. Adul and
Brig. Gen. Bashar) stated their commitment to the HCFA
(2004) and the Protocols (2005), but reiterated their
opposition to the DPA. The HOM thanked each for their
support and the support of the factions. HOM also
reiterated that this closed meeting was being held in
order to attempt to solve some of those problems.
D. Mini Minawi had a statement regarding attacks by
Chadian rebels against his forces in several
locations. But said he was committed to the DPA and the
processes to follow. Mini also said that AMIS must take
steps to protect Darfur and the parties under the DPA.
Phase II Open Meeting - The open meeting was attended by
the AMIS personnel, UN, parties, and the press.
A. The HOM mission gave a short history of the AMIS
mission in Sudan. Amb. Gibril spoke and thanked the
original CFC for its work and requested the new CFC to
continue the work of peace in Darfur.
B. HOM conducted a formal handing over of the duties of
CFC chairman from Amb. Gibril to the FC.
C. JEM and SLA/Wahid stated that they reject the FC as
the chairman of the CFC.
D. The FC urged all CFC members to continue the work.
He also stated that the CFC would continue to meet both
as the CFC under the HCFA (2004) and as the new CFC under
the DPA (2006).
E. The CFC has not met since the inaugural meeting on 13
June 06 and is not scheduled to meet again until 19 June
06 for the first CFC-DPA working meeting.

3. (U) The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) press
release on the CFC meeting is as follows:

KHARTOUM 00001428 002 OF 002

THE NEW DARFUR CEASEFIRE COMMISSION INAUGURATED
WITH ALL PARTIES IN ATTENDED BY ALL PARTIES

The Darfur Ceasefire Commission (CFC) was inaugurated on
Tuesday, 13 June 2006, at the Force Headquarters of the
African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in El Fasher,
Sudan. As set out in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),
the CFC is the organ responsible for the implementation
and monitoring of the ceasefire provisions of the DPA,
and other previous agreements between the Government of
Sudan and the parties.

The ceremony was chaired by Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe,
Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson
and Chairman of the Joint Commission. It was witnessed
by Amb. Said Djinnit, the AU Commissioner for Peace and
Security and Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, UN Under-Secretary-
General for Peacekeeping Operations who are leading the
AU/UN joint Technical Assessment Mission.

The inaugural session was attended by representatives of
the Government of Sudan and the Mini Minawi's Sudan
Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), as signatories of the
DPA. They pledged to cooperate fully with the CFC and
all other efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Darfur.
It was also attended by representatives from the SLM/A of
Abdul Waheed Al Nour and the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM), who have not signed the DPA, but are
bound by the N'djamena Ceasefire Agreement, the Addis
Ababa Agreement, and the two Abuja Protocols of 2005, all
relating to ceasefire arrangements. Both parties pledged
their support for all efforts at securing a lasting peace
in Darfur.

Commissioner Djinnit stressed that, in the immediate
term, efforts must be made to strengthen AMIS in order to
enable it to carry out its new responsibilities as
stipulated in the DPA and the other agreements.
Commissioner Djinnit also welcomed the fact that all
parties were represented at the event and called upon
them to quickly take up their tasks.

The AMIS Force Commander and new Chairperson of the CFC,
General CRU Ihekire, underlined the pivotal role to be
played by the Commission in resolving issues relating to
ceasefire violations between the parties. He further
stated "that the CFC will leave no stone unturned in
facilitating the resolution of disputes by dialogue."

Mr. Guehenno, urged all parties to build upon the
momentum provided by this important event. He expressed
the determination of the international community,
especially the United Nations, to bolster support for the
valuable efforts of the African Union to bring long-
lasting peace and stability to Darfur.

Finally, Ambassador Kingibe announced that efforts will
be made to inaugurate the Joint Commission soon, if
possible, before the holding of the African Union Summit
in Banjul, scheduled for 1-2 July 2006.

El Fasher, 14 June 2006

HUME

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