US State Department cables from places I have served plus items from my time as a UN peacekeeper. To increase public awareness of how diplomacy and peacekeeping are (were) actually done. All cables cleared by USG FOIA procedure. Cables are mostly those sent under my name from my posts but also others in which I was directly involved. UN documents and other items will also include occasional notes and background. Most recent in series on top with cables under the new series of UN documents.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Journal Entry for May 19, 2004: An Evening with Another El Madhi
Attended
a speech by Sadiq El Mahdi this evening. It was part of a regular
Wednesday evening gathering of the Umma Party faithful at the party
HQ in Omdurman. It was really hot and I hunkered down for two hours
of Arabic. Desert cooling once again put to the test. Crowd
numbered maybe two thousand on the veranda and lawn of the building.
Some guy kept popping up from the side
singing praise. At one point he seemed to get very agitated
and appeared to be pointing to me, the only gringo on the scene. He
may have been singing my praise or calling down the wrath of God or
neither.
Until
Sadiq showed up, Mr. Kalifa sat next to me and we chatted in English.
Kalifa is the grandson of the Kalifa, the follower of The Mahdi who
took over at his death and ruled Sudan until the British defeated
him. Kalifa the Younger is now #3 in the Umma Party.
Sadiq
-- the former Prime Minister overthrown in 1989 -- arrived to
great ovation and sat next to me. He asked me how much of the
speeches I was following. I said "none at all" although I
think I did hear an occasional salaam (peace) and Ameriki. He got
his niece to translate for me during his speech. (He spoke about
Darfur and peace.) When he was done, and after two hours of sweating
steadily but gently and watching little tiny moths land on my white
shirt, I took my leave. Another wonderful night in Sudan.
Note: Previous El Mahdi encounter here.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
04 Khartoum 0528: Mudawi Trial Drags On*
* The case against Mudawi Adam was dropped later in the year but he faced continual harassment and imprisonment by the Sudan government. He remains active and appears to be on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mudawi.adam.54
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Journal Entry for May 14, 2004: Darfur, Khartoum night life and local traffic
Spent this
evening chatting and having a few beers with the African Union team
that has just been to the west (Darfur) to arrange the logistics for
a peace monitoring effort. We sat on the roof of my political officer,
also part of the team. It cooled down rapidly tonight. Fell to 98
degrees by 7:30. But it was still 98 at 10pm. There were lots of
people out at clubs, restaurants and on the street. On the way back, passed one
well-lit place with two people in full body costumes out in front.
They were waving and looking jolly. The costumes were furry and, I
am quite sure, like a sauna inside. One was a rabbit. The ears
drooped and the arms were too long for the person, so they drooped
too. I hope it is shift work.
As
usual, drove through the new phase of road construction. Lots of it
going on. Roads are being broadened and extended. This is very
necessary because of the burgeoning traffic congestion. But roads
are built or rebuilt without any discernible attention to alternate
traffic routes. Sometimes, you'll come to a street that used to go
somewhere but now ends in a ditch or pile of dirt. Sometimes, you'll
be riding on an old road when it stops. You can see the new road
ahead or to the side but you'll need to go over some rough ground to
get there. Everybody going both ways faces the same challenge. So
the traffic backs up and everyone runs for whatever space they can
get. Soon, everyone is lost in the dust, especially at night. The
same thing happens in reverse. You'll be zooming down a nice new
paved road until suddenly it stops. There may or may not be another
road in sight. My driver always seems to know where to go and
eventually we get there.
My
favorite example of road work is a large exchange near the embassy.
Four lanes of traffic meet at a major intersection. The old
intersection: a couple of dirt roads plus a paved one. They are
building a new exchange which is sorely needed. Only problem is that
while they are building it, where the old one used to be, there is
now no official intersection at all. Instead, the two roads pass
close enough together that traffic "leaks" from one to the
other over maybe 20 feet of construction area. Here traffic congeals
and cars pass each other every which way and up. I like to think of
it as a macro example of the physics phenomenon of "quantum
tunneling." Particles from two different realms get so close
they just sort of "pass through" barriers to magically
reach the other side. Who needs an actual intersection. That is so
old physics!
Thursday, January 28, 2016
04 Khartoum 0490: Dinner with the Grandson of the Mahdi*
"Last
night I spent three hours dining with the grandson of The Mahdi. (If
you don't know who that is, rent the DVD of the movie Khartoum starring
Charleton Heston & Laurence Oivilier.)
We
dined on the veranda of the Imam El Mahdi's palace overlooking the
Nile River. It was grand. There was just enough breeze for desert
cooling (evaporating sweat). The Imam told me the story of his
father, the only one of The Mahdi's ten sons to survive the war with
the British. Abdel-Rahman was 13 when he was wounded in a battle
that killed two of his brothers. By the time he died in 1959, he had
helped his country reach independence from the British and had met
Winston Churchill, who had fought with the British in the 1890s.
Just the two of us talking under the stars about The Mahdi's effort
to reform Islam and the sect's continued efforts to do the same
without violence. The Imam is head of the Ansar, the descendants of
the warriors – who the British called the Dervishes – of The
Mahdi. A high point. The West has much to learn about Islam and
they of us. Most want to have this exchange. The common enemy is
the terrorists.
Most
Sudanese are too polite to mention their outrage over the treatment
of Iraqi prisoners by American forces. (The Imam didn’t.) But it
is a real black mark against us."
Monday, January 18, 2016
From a visit to Malakal in early May 2004
Labels:
conflict,
human rights,
Malakal,
South Sudan,
SPLM,
Sudan,
US
Monday, January 11, 2016
From the Embassy Arabic Press Review for 05/13/2004
AL SAHAFA:
GALLUCCI: WE DO NOT LINK DARFUR TO IGAD AND WE FAVOR UNITED SUDAN
While the favor of speculations are rising on date of signing the peace agreement between the government and the SPLM, Dr. Gerard Gallucci, US Charge asserted this week will witness the signing of the agreement on the three conflict areas and the power sharing issues.
Gallucci was addressing a small group of press corps at the American Embassy premises yesterday. He added mid June will witness the signing ceremony in Nairobi.
Gallucci, who was talking confidently about the future of the peaceful process between the government and the SPLM, seemed committed to continue on line of constructive dealing with the “fundamentalists at the Republican Palace”. He said they have started since a time ago to enter into work relationship with them.
He added the US Administration will start complete normalization of relations with the Government of Sudan as soon as a peace agreement is reached and the phase of arranging for final comprehensive cease-fire. He was reserved at linking the IGAD-sponsored peace process to Darfur.
He affirmed the vision of the EU and the US Administration is identical in this regard.
Gallucci linked lift of the US sanctions from the Sudanese government to three issues: cooperation in the so-called international counter terrorism issue, reaching a peace agreement through IGAD and achieving more comprehensive progress in the human rights issue.
While he noticed that the government is achieving progress in human rights issue, he added his Administration is waiting for lift of the state of emergency upon signing the peace agreement- according to President El Bashir’s promise.
Gallucci affirmed that most of the American aid will go to south Sudan after peace. He affirmed his government’s sympathy with south Sudan because the Americans sympathize with the weak!!
He was keen to affirm the challenges to maintain unity of Sudan- the United States and Egypt’s option. The Charge held the north Sudan the major responsibility in maintaining it.
The US Charge admitted that going far in sanctions against the government of Sudan would turn them into sanctions against the Sudanese people. He added if the peace agreement was signed next month, lift of sanctions will be before this year.
He revealed that his discussed with Sudanese businessmen resumption of commercial relations with his country and establishing Sudanese-US business council.
Gallucci seemed pragmatic toward dealing with the current situation data; he called for review of the total positive achievements realized through policy of constructive dealing with the Sudanese government; he committed that both, the government and the SPLM, will choose their allies to participate in the rule structure. He said that he encourages the Umma and DUP to work to speak through one voice. He blamed them for talking about figures and more disconnected.
Moreover, Petterson, USAID Administrative Assistance for Health declared a five-year plan- worth $5 millions US Dollars- to improve the health situation in south Sudan.
The State Department Population Refugees and Immigration Office allocated an additional $433 thousand US Dollar to International Rescue Committee to meet the Sudanese refugees needs in Chad.
Last week, the USAID started the first air relief dropping in Darfur within the context of four airdropping operations program.
WASHINGTON SEEKS TO PULL OUT MILLINGTON FROM NAIVASHA
Close sources to the ongoing negotiations in Kenya declared that Washington decided to withdraw its official of the Sudanese peace negotiations in Nairobi, Jeff Millington due to the wrong reports he has been sending to the US Administration in Washington.
The sources added that the IGAD Secretariat and the two negotiations parties- the SPLM in particular- have been resentful toward Millington’s inaccurate performance.
They added that Washington has depended in many of its resolutions regarding the peace negotiations on these inaccurate reports- including President Bush’s report before the Congress on April 21.
“Al Sahafa” learned that Michael Ranneberger, US officer for the peace issue in the State Department arrived in Naivasha yesterday.
Kalinzo Masioka, Kenyan Foreign Minister and Charles Snyder are currently visiting the negotiations venue to be acquainted with the obstacles impeding the two negotiation parties.
GALLUCCI: WE DO NOT LINK DARFUR TO IGAD AND WE FAVOR UNITED SUDAN
While the favor of speculations are rising on date of signing the peace agreement between the government and the SPLM, Dr. Gerard Gallucci, US Charge asserted this week will witness the signing of the agreement on the three conflict areas and the power sharing issues.
Gallucci was addressing a small group of press corps at the American Embassy premises yesterday. He added mid June will witness the signing ceremony in Nairobi.
Gallucci, who was talking confidently about the future of the peaceful process between the government and the SPLM, seemed committed to continue on line of constructive dealing with the “fundamentalists at the Republican Palace”. He said they have started since a time ago to enter into work relationship with them.
He added the US Administration will start complete normalization of relations with the Government of Sudan as soon as a peace agreement is reached and the phase of arranging for final comprehensive cease-fire. He was reserved at linking the IGAD-sponsored peace process to Darfur.
He affirmed the vision of the EU and the US Administration is identical in this regard.
Gallucci linked lift of the US sanctions from the Sudanese government to three issues: cooperation in the so-called international counter terrorism issue, reaching a peace agreement through IGAD and achieving more comprehensive progress in the human rights issue.
While he noticed that the government is achieving progress in human rights issue, he added his Administration is waiting for lift of the state of emergency upon signing the peace agreement- according to President El Bashir’s promise.
Gallucci affirmed that most of the American aid will go to south Sudan after peace. He affirmed his government’s sympathy with south Sudan because the Americans sympathize with the weak!!
He was keen to affirm the challenges to maintain unity of Sudan- the United States and Egypt’s option. The Charge held the north Sudan the major responsibility in maintaining it.
The US Charge admitted that going far in sanctions against the government of Sudan would turn them into sanctions against the Sudanese people. He added if the peace agreement was signed next month, lift of sanctions will be before this year.
He revealed that his discussed with Sudanese businessmen resumption of commercial relations with his country and establishing Sudanese-US business council.
Gallucci seemed pragmatic toward dealing with the current situation data; he called for review of the total positive achievements realized through policy of constructive dealing with the Sudanese government; he committed that both, the government and the SPLM, will choose their allies to participate in the rule structure. He said that he encourages the Umma and DUP to work to speak through one voice. He blamed them for talking about figures and more disconnected.
Moreover, Petterson, USAID Administrative Assistance for Health declared a five-year plan- worth $5 millions US Dollars- to improve the health situation in south Sudan.
The State Department Population Refugees and Immigration Office allocated an additional $433 thousand US Dollar to International Rescue Committee to meet the Sudanese refugees needs in Chad.
Last week, the USAID started the first air relief dropping in Darfur within the context of four airdropping operations program.
WASHINGTON SEEKS TO PULL OUT MILLINGTON FROM NAIVASHA
Close sources to the ongoing negotiations in Kenya declared that Washington decided to withdraw its official of the Sudanese peace negotiations in Nairobi, Jeff Millington due to the wrong reports he has been sending to the US Administration in Washington.
The sources added that the IGAD Secretariat and the two negotiations parties- the SPLM in particular- have been resentful toward Millington’s inaccurate performance.
They added that Washington has depended in many of its resolutions regarding the peace negotiations on these inaccurate reports- including President Bush’s report before the Congress on April 21.
“Al Sahafa” learned that Michael Ranneberger, US officer for the peace issue in the State Department arrived in Naivasha yesterday.
Kalinzo Masioka, Kenyan Foreign Minister and Charles Snyder are currently visiting the negotiations venue to be acquainted with the obstacles impeding the two negotiation parties.
Labels:
conflict,
Darfur,
government,
human rights,
Kenya,
relations,
South Sudan,
SPLM,
Sudan,
US,
USAID
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
04 Khartoum 0483: Meeting with Dismissed Vice Chancellor*
* From my Journal for May 11: Just
had dinner with the nice man fired last month as Vice Chancellor of
Khartoum University. Was at his house. Simple food and no AC. I am
amazed that people can live without AC here. Was still 111o when I
left.
Last
night it was a group of businessmen at my house. When you are rich
here, you have LOTS of money. Went well and they appreciated gesture
of US reaching out to business community.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
From My Journal for May 9, 2004: Visit to Malakal
Went to Malakal
yesterday to look into GOS-militia violence against civilians there.
One day, there and back with CPMT. Also checked out where [my son] will
be for a week of his internship.
Tonight,
went to the EU national day reception. It was 107o at 9:00pm. I had
on my guayabera and was sweating profusely. My EU colleagues were
all in their suits and long sleeves. The Brit looked like we was
standing under an invisible shower. I stayed 107 minutes and gave
up. I had done enough business and drank two beers.
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