Cablegate: Minawi Committed to Dpa but Pleads For

VZCZCXRO9219
OO RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2811/01 3411538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071538Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5512
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002811

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO AU SU UN
SUBJECT: MINAWI COMMITTED TO DPA BUT PLEADS FOR
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

REF: KHARTOUM 02807

1. (SBU) During a December 7 meeting with ambassadors at the
African Union Darfur Peace Agreement Implementation Office,
Senior Assistant to the President and Sudan Liberation
Movement (SLM) leader Minni Minawi affirmed his commitment to
the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), but pleaded with the
international community to support him in his efforts to
establish peace in Darfur. "Our choice is the Abuja peace
agreement," said Minawi. "We believe the Darfur Peace
Agreement is the way to get people to peace...but we cannot
take the authority that is needed without the international
community." Minawi indicated that the SLM could not continue
to limp along in the face of attacks by the Sudanese Armed
Forces (SAF), the Janjaweed, and the DPA non-signatories.
"Where is the international community's support? What is
your idea for promoting peace in Darfur?" questioned Minawi.
"My concern is the dignity and peacefulness of my people as
soon as possible, and I need your help."

------------------------------------
NCP, Sudan-Chad Rivalry Cause Crisis
------------------------------------

2. (SBU) Minawi disputed the assertion that the crisis in
Darfur was a "tribal war," saying that the tribes had been
living together for "5,000 to 6,000 years." Instead, he
blamed the National Congress Party (NCP) for arming some
groups against others in an attempt to create "facts on the
ground" and on the tensions between the Sudanese and Chadian
governments. He said that the Sudanese-Chadian tensions and
Chadian support for the National Redemption Front (NRF),
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and the G-19 would need
to be addressed in order to end the Darfur crisis. One of
Minawi's advisors also noted the influence of the Arab
Gathering--a shadowy movement that seeks to create an Arab
crescent throughout the Sahel--and said that its adherents in
the Sudanese government were working with Arab militias to
advance the Gathering's goals by 2020. (Note: As reported
reftel, this same advisor described this issue in a December
6 conversation with Embassy staff. End note.)

---------------------------
CDA Calls for Emergency CFC
---------------------------

3. (SBU) CDA Hume said that the USG shared Minawi's concerns
about the Sudanese government's disingenuous efforts to
implement the DPA and said that the NCP's plan to stabilize
the security situation in Darfur by force had clearly failed.
He called for an emergency session of both the Cease-fire
Commission (CFC) and the Joint Commission (JC), which
received support from Minawi and the other ambassadors.
French Ambassador Christine Robichon noted that a CFC meeting
would provide an opportunity for the two-chamber structure of
the CFC, which would include DPA non-signatories, to be
activated. Head of the European Commission Delegation Kent
Degerfelt said that the international community would be
unable to provide financial support for recovery and
development in Darfur until an effective cease-fire mechanism
was in place. (Note: AU Deputy Head of DPA Implementation
Amb. Boubou Niang said that meetings of the CFC and the JC
would be scheduled soon, both possibly in El Fasher. End
note.) CDA Hume also asked Minawi's advisor to provide a
brief on the Arab Gathering for the ambassadors, most of whom
were unaware of it. He agreed to do so on a bilateral basis.

---------------------------------
Negotiations with Non-Signatories
---------------------------------

4. (SBU) Minawi voiced his concern that DPA non-signatory
leaders were negotiating separate agreements with the
Sudanese government and called these "pieces of peace." He
claimed that these discussions were being used by the NCP to
undermine the agreement, and he emphasized that as a
signatory to the DPA, SLM/Minawi should be included in the
negotiations. "If there are any good ideas for supporting
this peace--politically and financially--I think it will go
forward and other non-signatories will join," said Minawi.
He also reiterated his support for an international
peace-keeping force in Darfur, though one of his advisors
added that the "intensive consultations" between the United
Nations (UN) and the Sudanese government regarding such a
force should be more inclusive of the SLM/Minawi. Minawi
suggested, however, that in the face of international
inaction and continuing violence by the NRF and Janjaweed,

KHARTOUM 00002811 002 OF 002

the SLM/Minawi would move to create a joint force for the
protection of civilians. He did not elaborate on the
structure of such a force.
HUME

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