R 261930Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1729

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001301 
 
 
FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/CC 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT: HIGHJACKING OF SUDANESE AIRCRAFT 
 
¶1. (U) A/CDA was contacted by RSO (on TDY in Darfur) at 20:00 on 
August 26 and informed of the highjacking of a Sudanese domestic Sun 
Air Flight enroute from the Darfuri city of  Nyala to  Khartoum. 
The plane was diverted to Kufar, Libya where it landed. 
 
¶2. (U) A/CDA  passed this information to  State Ops and  AF.   The 
Core EAC (D/RSO, MGT, CONS, and RAO) met at 22:00 to evaluate 
information gathered from various sources    RAO and MGT confirmed 
that based on airport contacts there were no Americans onboard 
flight.  One report from airport contacts had all of the 
approximately 90 passengers and crew onboard as Sudanese with a 
second report saying they are all Sudanese except for 2 Egyptians 
and 1 African whose nationality was not known.   MGT through the 
Embassy travel section confirmed that no FSNs were booked on flight. 
Post  provided this update to State Ops and AF. 
 
¶3. (SBU) RA and RSO heard reports that hijackers estimated to be 3 
to 4 armed men  reportedly boarded flight through a fist class 
lounge in Nyala.  The same reports said they belonged to either the 
Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) Abdu Wahid faction or the SLA Minni 
Minnawi faction.   Post has no further information on affiliations 
or motive for the hijacking at this time. 
 
¶4. Post has not been contacted by GoS for assistance.  EAC will 
continue to monitor situation. 
 
 
ASQUINO