VZCZCXRO8160
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0724/01 0811501
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221501Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1986
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000724 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR D, AF/SPG, AF/PD, AND DRL 
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID FOR OTI, AF/EA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR M. GERSON 
NSC FOR DR. COURVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KPAO OPSC SU
SUBJECT: WEST DARFUR: SUDO LIKELY CLOSED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
PROJECTS 
 
REF: A. KHARTOUM 722 
 
     ¶B. KHARTOUM 670 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Andrew Steinfeld; Reason:  1.4(b) 
 and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The Sudan Social Development Organization, a 
USAID-supported Sudanese NGO, had not worked according to its 
mandate and had to be closed down, West Darfur Governor 
Gaffar Abdel Hakam told Charge Steinfeld during a March 20-21 
visit to El Geneina.  The Governor, however, refused to 
explain what work SUDO had done outside its mandate, and 
rebuffed further attempts to discuss the matter.  One UN 
official suggested that the closure might be due to SUDO's 
work on human rights in West Darfur -- a project funded by 
USAID -- as part of a broader campaign to pressure local NGOs 
in the state.  END SUMMARY. 
 
SUDO "Transferred Mandate," Governor Tells Charge 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (C) The West Darfur Government shut down the local offices 
of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) because 
it was "working in other areas beyond its mandate," Governor 
Gaffar Abdel Hakam told Charge Steinfeld on March 20; the 
Charge asked the Governor about SUDO's closure during a 
courtesy call in El Geneina, the state capital.  SUDO was 
authorized to work in the areas of health, education, water, 
and sanitation, the Governor explained, but it had 
"transferred its mandate to others" and was "working in other 
areas."  To resume operations, SUDO had to go to the West 
Darfur Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) and return with 
another mandate. 
 
¶3. (C) As reported in Ref. B, the West Darfur HAC closed 
SUDO's offices in El Geneina and Zalengei on March 11, days 
after the organization's chairman, Madawi Ibrahim Adam, 
published an op-ed in the Washington Times and met with 
senior officials at the White House, including President 
Bush.  Operations outside West Darfur, however, have not been 
affected.  SUDO has received a USD 55,000 USAID/OTI in-kind 
grant for human rights monitor training in El Geneina and 
Zalengei; approval for another USD 248,000 grant for clothing 
distribution to women and children victims of violence is 
pending in Washington. 
 
Are You Investigating Me? 
------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) When the Charge asked what type of work SUDO had done 
outside its mandate, the Governor retorted indignantly, "Are 
you investigating me?"  The Charge responded that the issue 
had raised concerns in Washington.  (Note:  The Department's 
March 20 press statement on SUDO's closing had not been 
released at the time of the meeting).  "We have sent a letter 
to SUDO, and they know what they must do.  We have a 
Constitution in Sudan, and we must respect our Constitution," 
the Governor declared firmly. 
 
HAC Knows Nothing 
----------------- 
 
¶5. (C) In a separate meeting, West Darfur Humanitarian 
Affairs Commissioner Al-Tijani Tajeddin told the Charge that 
he had nothing to add to the Governor's statement about SUDO. 
 (Comment:  This may reflect Al-Tijani's weakness compared to 
a formidable Governor (Ref A), or it may just be his 
inexperience.  An ethnic Beja, he had only recently moved to 
West Darfur from Kassala, where he had worked in the HAC's 
Office; March 20 was his first official day at work.  End 
comment.) 
 
UN/OCHA:  Human Rights Work Behind the Closure? 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6. (C) Andy Pendleton, West Darfur Area Coordinator for the 
UN OCHA, later told the Charge that he believed the move 
against SUDO was a joint effort by the West Darfur HAC and 
the local National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) 
branch.  "They started investigating them a while ago for 
working on human rights," he noted.  Pendleton had heard 
stories that SUDO,s chairman had visited Washington, but did 
not think the closure was a simple case of retaliation. 
 
¶7. (C) SUDO Chairman Madawi confirmed on March 22 that SUDO 
 
KHARTOUM 00000724  002 OF 002 
 
 
had filed a request for a new mandate with the West Darfur 
HAC by fax, but was subsequently told it had to present an 
original copy.  Madawi had then sent the original by courier, 
but did not expect the HAC to receive it until March 23. 
"The HAC complained that the media was making a big fuss 
about this, and told me I was responsible," Madawi told the 
Embassy,s FSN Political Specialist.  The Embassy,s Human 
Rights Officer plans to meet Madawi in the next few days, and 
will report on SUDO's progress septel. 
STEINFELD