04 Khartoum 0454: Meeting with XXXXX*

* Note:  The PC was/is the Popular Congress Party headed by Hassan al-Turabi.

04 Khartoum 0367: April 7, 2004 Meeting with Sudan's Foreign Minister*

* From my journal for April 7:  Met with the foreign minister and tried to find a way forward vis-à-vis the Chad talks. Maybe found one. Accepted his offer to have someone from the Embassy travel with him to Darfur. Meanwhile, the talks in Kenya maybe/maybe not have a breakthrough. Went to dinner on the Nile despite the heat. The warm breeze carried the smell of animal waste. Some kind of bug was out flying around the lights. But it actually wasn’t that bad. And sometimes a slightly cool, fresh breeze came along (helped by huge fans going at a respectful distance). Took the opportunity to try a waterpipe. Not bad. The slightly past full moon rose in the east over the Nile.

04 Khartoum 0341: GOS Now Says Sabotage, Not Coup Plot; Turabi's Party Says GOS moves Are Aginst Them*

* Note:  On April 4, I met with the Speaker of Parliament, to deliver our relevant standard messages plus noted that we were watching the case of arrested MP. He thanked me for my "frankness."

04 Khartoum 0075 -- Darfur Policy Recommendations

Jounral Entry for December 12, 2003

Just got back from the Kenyan National Day reception. Picked up some useful info, a lot of rumor and saw from only a few feet the infamous Hasan Al Turabi. Chatted with my colleagues from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia and also Egyptian intelligence. At the end, I complemented the Kenyan Ambassador for not doing a speech. He looked crestfallen as he told me he had prepared a speech, a long one, but had been been prevailed upon not to deliver it since no one would listen. I suggested he email it to me and he assured me that he already had. I love these Africans, the real ones I mean.

The young kittens appear to be growing increasingly comfortable with their possession of my front yard and patio. Moma guards them carefully and they are so cute that during Happy Hour here, several people gave serious thought to stealing one or the other. But they seem to have already decided that I am of little account and need not pay me much heed.

Got warm enough here this week to return to AC. But not bad. Started work on my Xmas puzzle. It'll be here when I return.*

*Note: I would be leaving later in the month for home leave.