Cablegate: Darfur: Situation Calmer in El Fasher

VZCZCXRO9519
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2817 3412032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 072032Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5519
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002817

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER AND AF S/E NATSIOS
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PHUM PREF AU UN SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: SITUATION CALMER IN EL FASHER

REF: Khartoum 02808

--------------------------------------------- ----------
Negotiations Result in Pull-Back; Situation Still Tense
--------------------------------------------- ----------

1. The situation in El Fasher appears calmer as of December 7
despite sporadic gunfire between 1900 and 0030 hours on the night of
December 6-7, according to UNDSS officials in El Fasher.
Negotiations among the Sudanese Government, rebel groups, and
Janjaweed appear to have resulted in a large-scale pull- back of
Janjaweed and rebel forces from positions outside El Fasher.

2. According to EU Military Observers, North Darfur Deputy Wali
Iddris Abdullah Hassan met with police and other security forces on
December 7 to discuss the recent violence in El Fasher. Riot police
are widely deployed around El Fasher town center. Although more
people are back on the street, only about 10 percent of shops are
open in the markets, reflecting fears of repetition of recent
hostilities. Another student demonstration against the lack of AMIS
protection of civilians from the Janjaweed at AMIS HQ did not
materialize, perhaps due to the intensified police presence,
suggested SLM representatives.

---------------------
Janjaweed Pulling Out
---------------------

3. According to UNDSS in El Fasher, on the morning of December 7,
up to four 8-ton trucks full of Janjaweed were observed driving past
SLM compounds. No clashes occurred despite this provocation, and
the trucks reportedly headed towards Kutum. A 40-vehicle convoy has
been reported to be heading towards Al-Salaam IDP camp and the road
to Mellit. Several kilometers from El Fasher a 60-vehicle convoy of
Janjaweed drove back north towards Kutum. This may be the same
convoy that had moved south, closer to El Fasher, on December 6,
possibly as a show of force.

HUME

© Scoop Media