US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA163

C O N F I D E N T I A L  NDJAMENA 000163 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, AF/SPG, PRM, USAID/OTI; LONDON AND 
PARIS FOR AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL, 
ADDIS/NAIROBI/KAMPALA FOR REFCOORDS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PREF, CD, SU, Darfur Policy and Rebels 
SUBJECT: TURNING UP THE HEAT: HIGH-LEVEL JOINT COMMISSION 
MEETING PLANNED 
 
REF: NDJAMENA 60 
 
Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Kathleen FitzGibbon for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U) Summary:  Chad will host a high-level meeting of the 
Joint Commission on the Humanitarian Cease-fire for Darfur on 
February 15.  The meeting will include the presidents of 
Nigeria, Sudan, and Gabon, and the foreign ministers of other 
countries, according to Chadian Foreign Minister Nagoum 
Yamassoum.  The Chad mediation team requested that the 
international community pressure all the parties to respect 
the cease-fire and come to the meeting prepared to overcome 
the current impasse.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) On February 4, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nagoum 
Yamassoum convoked the diplomatic corps to announce that the 
next meeting of the Joint Commission on the Humanitarian 
Cease-Fire for Darfur would include the presidents of 
Nigeria, Sudan, and Gabon and the Foreign Ministers of Libya 
and Egypt and other countries affected by the crisis. 
Yamassoum explained that during the recent summit of African 
leaders in Abuja, Chad expressed its frustration that the 
Joint Commission and the Abuja peace process remain blocked 
and appealed to the heads of state to become involved to 
break through the impasse.  As a result, a committee 
consisting of Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, and Chad was established 
to focus on moving the peace process forward.  Yamassoum, 
Chairman of the Joint Commission Mahamat Ali, and Special 
Advisor to the Presidency Allam-mi will travel throughout the 
region next week to deliver the invitations for the meeting 
to various heads of state.  (Comment: The Nigerian Consul in 
N'Djamena said he had no word on whether or not President 
Obasanjo would be attending the meeting.  End Comment.) 
 
3.  (C) Yamassoum and Ali appealed for support from the 
international community in preparation for the meeting.  Ali 
said that Chad has done as much as it can and that only 
concerted pressure at the highest levels will get the peace 
process moving.  (See Reftel.) This includes pressuring the 
Government of Sudan to disarm the jandjaweed.  In addition, 
Yamassoum said that the rebel movements must be told to give 
their locations to the African Union Cease-fire Commission, 
and as an aside, "canton themselves".  P/E officer asked 
Yamassoum what he meant by "canton themselves" as this is not 
a requirement for the rebel movements under existing 
agreements.  He explained that the movements need to 
disengage and stay in their positions.  (Comment: Chadian 
officials often use the phrase "cantonment", an indication of 
their own wishful thinking because they tell us the 
jandjaweed are not likely to disarm if they fear a rebel 
attack.  End Comment.)  Finally, Yamassoum said that he hoped 
that international community would ensure that the movements 
come to N'Djamena with their highest level of representation. 
 
4.  (C) Ali and Allam-mi will be discussing the meeting later 
today with the rebel movements.  Meanwhile, Adam Shogar from 
the Sudan Liberation Movement told P/E officer that Daoussa 
Deby had been advising them on their leadership problems. 
 
 
Shogar also said that it is highly unlikely that Mini Minawi 
would come to Chad for the meeting.  It is more likely that 
Dr. Sharif Harir would attend, his health permitting, because 
Harir is apparently coming to N'Djamena next week to consult 
with Shogar on SLM issues.  Shogar and Ahmed Lissan Togud, 
the Justice and Equality Movement, are set to meet with Gen. 
Ali and Allam-mi later in the evening of February 4, 
presumably to be informed of the upcoming meeting.  Shogar 
said that he would call Mini Minawi after the meeting with 
the Chad mediators to discuss SLM's attendance at the meeting. 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  The Chad mediation team is relieved it has 
been able to arrange a high level meeting.  At a minimum, the 
mediators expect the meeting could result in a renewed effort 
by the parties to respect the cease-fire.  Without respect 
for the cease-fire, the Chadians do not believe it makes 
sense to begin another round of negotiations in Abuja.  We 
urge Washington to send a senior representative to the 
February 15 meeting. 
 
6.  (U) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize Considered. 
WALL 
 
 
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