VZCZCXRO9453
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #1194 1210925
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010925Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0294
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016 
TAGS: PREL SU KPKO MOPS AU
SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: AU COMMISSION DEMARCHED ON GRAIDA 
 
REF: A. STATE 66151 
 
     ¶B. KHARTOUM 1011 
     ¶C. ADDIS 1186 
 
Classified By: JANET WILGUS, CHARGE D'AFFAIRES A.I.  REASON: 1.4 (D). 
 
¶1. (SBU) Deputy pol/econ counselor delivered ref A points on 
USG concerns about further violence in south Darfur to 
Ambassador Ki Doulaye Corentin, Head of the African Union 
Commission's Darfur Integrated Task Force (AU/DITF), on April 
¶28.  Ki Doulaye pledged to share the information with AU 
Peace and Security Commissioner Ambassador Said Djinnit. 
 
¶2. (C) Ki Doulaye said the African Union had long tried to 
avoid this confrontation between the SLA and the Sudanese 
Government, which was "a clear violation of the ceasefire 
agreement" on behalf of both the Government and rebels. 
Because of heavy fighting in the area, the Joint Commission 
in Abuja had earlier called for belligerents to withdraw from 
Graida, Labado, and Sheria, he said.  SLA factions, following 
their split, had returned and occupied Graida as "a 
stronghold."  The AU had been involved in "negotations for 
months" for the SLA to withdraw from Graida, as the Sudanese 
Government had accused AMIS of failing to meet its 
commitments.  The Sudanese Government had pledged to take 
action, Ki Doulaye said, following the SLA's refusal to 
withdraw and the SLA's claim that it had popular support in 
the area. 
 
¶3. (C) Ki Doulaye said the AU was disturbed by reports of 
civilians at risk, as they meant the African Union Mission in 
Sudan (AMIS) was not fulfilling its mandate.  He said AMIS 
would "take all necessary steps" to protect civilians and 
IDPs, and to engage all parties to "restore neutrality" to 
Graida.  Ki Doulaye noted that the issue had been raised with 
the AMIS Deputy Force Commander, who would do his best to 
protect civilians, and that the AU had dispatched DITF 
Military Component LTC Mbaye and another military officer 
April 28 to discuss it further with the AMIS Deputy Force 
Commander in El Fasher (as the AMIS Force Commander remains 
in Abuja attending political talks). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
ROTATION OF RWANDAN TROOPS EFFECTS AMIS COVERAGE OF GRAIDA 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Ki Doulaye noted that Graida was located in the sector 
for which the Rwandan contingent was responsible; Rwandan 
troops were currently pre-occupied with their troop rotation, 
with 200 troops awaiting transit at El Fasher, rather than in 
the field.  While Rwandan troops "usually interpreted the 
AMIS mandate strongly," the ongoing troop rotation "explains 
our weakness on the ground," Ki Doulaye said.  (NOTE: 
According to AU/DITF, the rotation of the Rwandan contingent 
began April 27 and is not expected to be completed until next 
week.  END NOTE.)  Ki Doulaye explained that with 
approximately 150 troops typically manning a team site, 
having 200 troops waiting at El Fasher thus significantly 
reduced AMIS's presence in the field. 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT: AU/DITF's analysis highlights the significant 
operational impact that delays in strategic lift can have on 
AMIS's ability to protect civilians in Darfur.  END COMMENT. 
 
WILGUS