US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA791

C O N F I D E N T I A L  NDJAMENA 000791 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/C, AF/SPG, D, DRL, H, INR, INR/GGI, 
PRM, USAID/OTI AND USAID/W FOR DAFURRMT; LONDON AND PARIS 
FOR AFRICAWATCHERS; GENEVA FOR CAMPBELL, 
ADDIS/NAIROBI/KAMPALA FOR REFCOORDS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREF, KAWC, CD, SU, Darfur Policy and Rebels 
SUBJECT: SLM PLANS FOR DARFUR CONFERENCE 
 
Classified By: Politial/Economic Officer Kathleen FitzGibbon for reason 
s 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) appears 
to be moving ahead with its plans to hold a meeting of its 
members in Darfur to make leadership changes.  The 
long-awaited meeting may take place in three weeks time.  SLM 
members from Asmara and Nairobi began arriving in N'Djamena 
to start making arrangements.  The SLM's draft Constitution 
contains provisions for a President, three Vice Presidents, 
and 23 Executive Council members.  SLM members in N'Djamena 
outlined how they plan to ease Mini Minawi out of SLM's 
decision-making structure.  SLM members are requesting that 
the international community weigh in with the Sudanese 
Government to ensure their safety during the meeting at Jebel 
Mara.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) P/E officer met with thirty SLM members on May 10, 
some of them N'Djamena-based but a large proportion are from 
Asmara and Nairobi.  Another house has been rented for them 
while they prepare for a leadership meeting set to take place 
in Jebel Mara in three weeks.  Abdelwahid Nour and Mini 
Minawi are expected in N'Djamena in the coming weeks.  (Note: 
We will believe it when we see it.  End Note.)  Dr. Sanusi, 
in from Asmara, did most of the talking for the group, but 
N'Djamena-based rebels appeared to agree with his statements, 
many of which we have heard before. 
 
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PLANS FOR MOVING OUT MINI 
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3.  (C) Dr. Sanusi argued that the majority of SLM members 
have lost confidence in Mini Minawi's leadership abilities. 
He said that Mini's military prowess and courage were 
essential at the outset of the rebellion and the 
decision-making structure then suited a small, mobile group 
of men.  However, SLM has grown tremendously and is entering 
a new phase of its maturity which requires an accountable 
leadership structure and well-defined political aims.  Sanusi 
said that the past year has demonstrated Mini's inability to 
organize the movement.  Moreover, it is clear to SLM members 
that the gulf between Abdelwahid and Mini is unbridgeable. 
 
4.  (C) According to Sanusi, Mini's own tribal leaders will 
be involved in his removal.  One or two members of Mini's 
inner circle will replace him in SLM's leadership structure. 
P/E officer asked if Mini would be completely removed or 
offered a face-saving position which gives him a title but 
limits his ability to act on his own.  Sanusi did not have an 
answer.  Abdelwahid would remain in the top echelons, but his 
ability to act independently would be constrained.  P/E 
officer asked what incentive either Mini or Abdelwahid have 
to come to a meeting at which their leadership will be 
weakened.  Sanusi said that the meeting will go ahead, with 
or without them.  He expects that Abdelwahid will attend. 
 
5.  (C) Sanusi and several other SLM members departed for 
Libya on May 10.  He said that the purpose of the meeting 
with Qaddafi is to request that Libya stop interfering in the 
movement, particularly that the Libyans not offer any more 
money to its current leadership. 
 
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SLM'S PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 
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6.  (C) Sanusi gave P/E officer a copy of the SLM's 
Constitution that will be considered at the Darfur meeting. 
It states SLM's aims as: working toward a federal system of 
government in Sudan under a secular constitution; to fight 
against human rights violations, tribalism, sectionalism, and 
sectarianism; the promotion of the rights of women and 
children, and creation of an economic policy that realizes 
sustainable development for all Sudanese. 
 
7.  (C) The "Supreme Authority" of SLM/A will be the National 
Convention of delegates, comprised of representatives of the 
branch committees and will meet every four years.  The 
National Convention will elect a President, three Vice 
Presidents, and thirty-five others Executive Committee 
members.  The General Secretariat will be comprised of the 
 
President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary General, and 
secretaries fro Administration, Finance and Economic Affairs, 
 
SIPDIS 
Political Affairs, Foreign Relations, Education, Culture and 
Youth Affairs, Information and Propaganda, Women and 
Children's Affairs, Labor, Human Rights, and Social Affairs. 
The President will preside over the meetings of the National 
Convention, National Executive Committee, and the Secretariat 
General.  He will initiate policies and guide the party.  He 
shall assign duties to the Vice Presidents.  One Vice 
President will be appointed to act in absence of the 
President. 
 
8.  (C) All SLM members are equal and allowed to cast votes 
during elections of officials as long as they have paid their 
monthly dues.  All members will be expected to publicize 
SLM's programs, attend village and branch meetings, and obey 
branch committees. 
 
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OUTREACH TO JEM 
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9.  (C)  Sanusi said that after the SLM conference, its 
leaders will meet with the Justice and Equality Movement 
(JEM).  However, he noted that Dr. Khalil Ibrahim's Islamic 
agenda does not fit with SLM's goals.  SLM can move forward 
without Khalil and will likely enter in discussions with 
former JEM field commander Mohammed Saleh about joining SLM 
or allying with it. 
 
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REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
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10.  (C) SLM is worried that the Government of Sudan will 
take advantage of the gathering of its membership in Darfur 
to attack them at Jebel Mara.  Dr. Sanusi asked if the 
international community and the African Union could pressure 
the GOS not to attack SLM during their conference.  Sanusi 
also welcomed any type of logistics assistance the 
international community can provide.  He noted that the 
Chadian Government will allow SLM members to cross the border. 
 
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COMMENT 
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11.  (C) The Chadians have expected Abdelwahid and Mini in 
N'Djamena since March, and SLM members have talked about the 
need for an organizational conference since last year. 
However, the arrival of the conference "advance" team in 
N'Djamena and holding of committee meetings are indications 
that it may actually come off sometime in the next month. 
Rank-and-file members insist the SLM's leadership problem 
must be settled prior to returning to Abuja, regardless of 
what Abdelwahid or Mini say. 
 
12.  (U) Khartoum and Tripoli Minimize Considered. 
WALL 
 
 
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