Cablegate: Peace and Development for Abyei Slow in Coming

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OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #1401/01 3481205
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141205Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4885
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001401

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS KDEM KPKO SOCI SU
SUBJECT: PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ABYEI SLOW IN COMING

REF: A) KHARTOUM 862 B) 08 KHARTOUM 737

1. Summary. (SBU) On December 8, Poloff met with Ngok Dinka
traditional leaders in Abyei town, who stated that the National
Congress Party (NCP) is arming militias in the area in order to
destabilize Abyei and prevent demarcation of Abyei's boundaries.
Traditional leaders also complained that the Abyei Administration's
lack of funding and unwillingness to govern hinder development and
peace initiatives in Abyei. Civil society leaders told Poloff that
they trust the Joint Integrated Police Unit (JIPU) in Abyei more
than the Joint Integrated Unit (JIU). Youth leaders added that the
JIPU should be an all-Dinka force, as Abyei belongs to the Dinka.
Abyei's progress toward peace and development continues to crawl,
despite efforts by national and international organizations to
improve the situation there. End Summary.

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NCP, Not Misseriya, Blocking Demarcation
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2. (SBU) On December 8, Poloff met in Abyei town with Ngok Dinka
traditional leaders who stated that the NCP, not the Misseriya, is
behind efforts to hinder demarcation of the Abyei boundary. These
leaders stated that the NCP is arming Misseriya, Nuer, and even some
NCP-affiliated Dinka militia forces in an effort to destabilize the
area and block the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on
Abyei (Ref A). Traditional leaders noted that while the Misseriya
typically begin to enter the Abyei area in mid-January, this year
they came in early November, and came heavily armed. (Note: A
drought in the area is at least partially responsible for the
Misseriya's early migration this year. End Note.) They added that
stability in the region will be impossible without demarcation of
the Abyei boundary.

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Administration Hindering Peace and Progress
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3. (SBU) In a December 8 meeting with Poloff, traditional leaders
complained that the Abyei Administration has no capacity or will to
govern. Traditional leaders noted that Arop Moyak Monytoc, Abyei's
Chief Administrator, and most of its legislators, are rarely in
Abyei, and do nothing while there. (Note: Mark Rutgers, UNMIS Head
of Office for Abyei, confirmed on December 7 that Monytoc is rarely
in Abyei. End Note.) Traditional leaders also noted that funds
budgeted to Abyei have not been released, leaving Abyei bereft of
basic services and infrastructure. They stated that plans for a
traditional migration conference between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya
tribal leaders that they submitted to Monytoc last year remain
unaddressed.

4. (SBU) Despite the recognized ineffectiveness of the Abyei
Administration, Ngok Dinka traditional leaders were adamant that a
migration conference with Misseriyia leaders cannot take place
without government involvement. They stated that without government
oversight, enforcement of any agreement reached will be impossible.
They added that they could not meet alone with the Misseriya because
the Misseriya might kill them.

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Distrust of Abyei JIU
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5. (SBU) In a December 8 meeting, leaders from the local women's
union and youth union told Poloff that they do not trust the Abyei
JIU to provide security, and want security in the town provided by
the JIPU. Women's leaders noted that the JIU fought amongst itself
in the May, 2008 Abyei conflict (Ref B). Youth leaders stated that
they want the JIPU to be solely Ngok Dinka, adding that "Abyei
belongs to the Dinka" and "everything in Abyei must be Dinka."
Youth leaders also stated that a conference with the Misseriya is
needed so that the Dinka can teach the Misseriya to stay in one
place.

6. (SBU) Comment: Progress on Abyei's development continues to be
extremely slow despite significant efforts by the international
community. Progress toward peaceful co-existence between the Ngok
Dinka of Abyei and their northern neighbors is also shaky. Ngok
Dinka leaders in Abyei display complex and ambivalent feelings
toward the Misseriya. Ngok Dinka frequently emphasize that the
Misseriya are not enemies of the Dinka, and blame the NCP for
conflict in the area. On the other hand, the Ngok Dinka in Abyei
universally want Abyei's boundaries demarcated and want Abyei
declared Dinka land, an idea that is anathema to the Misseriya.
Furthermore, Ngok Dinka in Abyei probably fear the Misseriya and
look forward to the protection of the Sudan People's Liberation Army

KHARTOUM 00001401 002 OF 002

that would come with Abyei's inclusion in an independent southern
Sudan. A peace conference of traditional leaders might help diffuse
tensions at the tribal level, or it might reveal to both sides the
stark differences between their two visions for the future of Abyei.
End Comment.

WHITEHEAD

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