Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ADDISABABA4199
2005-12-23 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
AMIS FUTURE - AU SETS PSC DATE, PARTNERS SEEK
how-toVZCZCXRO5049 OO RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHPA DE RUEHDS #4199/01 3571200 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 231200Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8411 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEPGBA/USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0178
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 004199
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E, D: TAIYA SMITH.
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: AMIS FUTURE - AU SETS PSC DATE, PARTNERS SEEK
COORDINATION GUIDANCE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 004199
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E, D: TAIYA SMITH.
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: AMIS FUTURE - AU SETS PSC DATE, PARTNERS SEEK
COORDINATION GUIDANCE
1. This is an action request. See paragraph 7.
2. (SBU) Summary: According to African Union (AU) Peace and
Security Commissioner Amb. Said Djinnit, the AU Peace and
Security Council (PSC) will meet January 12 to decide the
future of AMIS. Addis-based AU partners are seeking guidance
from capitals on how to promote a positive PSC outcome, which
would give the UN a green light to plan blue-hatting of AMIS
in 2006. The AU's desire for frank dialogue on AMIS also
presents the opportunity to ensure more strategic-level
thinking on implementing December 2005 assessment mission
recommendations, including securing AU requests for NATO and
other partner assistance. End summary.
--------------
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
--------------
3. (SBU) On December 23, AU Peace and Security Commissioner
Djinnit responded to a letter sent by British Ambassador
Dewar on behalf of all partners supporting AMIS. According
to Djinnit, the AU PSC will meet January 12 to consider the
AU Commission report on Darfur ahead of the January 20
expiration of AMIS' mandate. (Note: AU officials have
informed partners that the Commission's report will include
relevant extracts of the December AU-led assessment mission,
an analysis of the Abuja Political Talks, and advice from AU
Legal on the relationship between the AU and International
Criminal Court activity on Darfur.) End note.
4. (SBU) The December assessment mission report is still with
Amb. Djinnit for final approval, but contains a key paragraph
on AMIS transition:
-- "It is further recommended that early consideration be
given to all viable alternatives for maintaining a peace
support operation in Darfur. It should, however, be borne in
mind that if other institutions are to be involved, an early
start to contingency planning will be required. In any case
it is inevitable that AMIS presence in Darfur will be
maintained for the next 6-9 months. In the longer term, a
single operation covering the whole of Sudan including a
settlement in the east will bring coherence and synergy, in
addition to facilitating integration of increasingly complex
political, humanitarian and military effort."
-------------- --------------
COMMENT: ENGAGEMENT FROM POST AND DEPARTMENT NEEDED
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) In the run-up to the January 12 PSC meeting on
Darfur, Post recommends continued efforts to assess PSC and
other key AU member state views on the future of AMIS.
Charge will be hosting a lunch with selected PSC Ambassadors
January 10, which should present a timely opportunity to
assess and influence. Per partner request, Amb. Djinnit has
designated Darfur Integrated Task Force (DITF) Political Head
Solomon Gomez and Military Head Col. Mbaye the main points of
contact for partner interface while the liaison group is on
recess. Post believes that continued senior-level engagement
with the AU on the issue of AMIS future will be critical.
6. (SBU) The AU needs reassurance that partners are committed
to enhancing African peacekeeping capability in the period
before transition to a UN mission in Darfur, through seeking
the re-hatting of some AU troops, and in the future through
the African Standby Force and other AU-led efforts. The
liaison group, which meets twice-weekly with the AU to pursue
Darfur objectives, can be reconfigured as a working group to
assist the AU with implementing mutually-agreed priorities
from the assessment mission recommendations. Reinvigorating
the liaison group will require AU willingness to dialogue on
strategic issues and to accept additional partner technical
assistance, including a request for NATO expertise for
command and control functions. It will also require closer
coordination between capitals and partner embassies in Addis
Ababa.
7. (SBU) Post looks forward to working with Washington and
key partners to bring about a positive and supportable PSC
ADDIS ABAB 00004199 002 OF 002
decision, as well as to improve AMIS capacity to address
challenges in Darfur before a hopeful UN transition.
HUDDLESTON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E, D: TAIYA SMITH.
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO SU AU
SUBJECT: AMIS FUTURE - AU SETS PSC DATE, PARTNERS SEEK
COORDINATION GUIDANCE
1. This is an action request. See paragraph 7.
2. (SBU) Summary: According to African Union (AU) Peace and
Security Commissioner Amb. Said Djinnit, the AU Peace and
Security Council (PSC) will meet January 12 to decide the
future of AMIS. Addis-based AU partners are seeking guidance
from capitals on how to promote a positive PSC outcome, which
would give the UN a green light to plan blue-hatting of AMIS
in 2006. The AU's desire for frank dialogue on AMIS also
presents the opportunity to ensure more strategic-level
thinking on implementing December 2005 assessment mission
recommendations, including securing AU requests for NATO and
other partner assistance. End summary.
--------------
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
--------------
3. (SBU) On December 23, AU Peace and Security Commissioner
Djinnit responded to a letter sent by British Ambassador
Dewar on behalf of all partners supporting AMIS. According
to Djinnit, the AU PSC will meet January 12 to consider the
AU Commission report on Darfur ahead of the January 20
expiration of AMIS' mandate. (Note: AU officials have
informed partners that the Commission's report will include
relevant extracts of the December AU-led assessment mission,
an analysis of the Abuja Political Talks, and advice from AU
Legal on the relationship between the AU and International
Criminal Court activity on Darfur.) End note.
4. (SBU) The December assessment mission report is still with
Amb. Djinnit for final approval, but contains a key paragraph
on AMIS transition:
-- "It is further recommended that early consideration be
given to all viable alternatives for maintaining a peace
support operation in Darfur. It should, however, be borne in
mind that if other institutions are to be involved, an early
start to contingency planning will be required. In any case
it is inevitable that AMIS presence in Darfur will be
maintained for the next 6-9 months. In the longer term, a
single operation covering the whole of Sudan including a
settlement in the east will bring coherence and synergy, in
addition to facilitating integration of increasingly complex
political, humanitarian and military effort."
-------------- --------------
COMMENT: ENGAGEMENT FROM POST AND DEPARTMENT NEEDED
-------------- --------------
5. (SBU) In the run-up to the January 12 PSC meeting on
Darfur, Post recommends continued efforts to assess PSC and
other key AU member state views on the future of AMIS.
Charge will be hosting a lunch with selected PSC Ambassadors
January 10, which should present a timely opportunity to
assess and influence. Per partner request, Amb. Djinnit has
designated Darfur Integrated Task Force (DITF) Political Head
Solomon Gomez and Military Head Col. Mbaye the main points of
contact for partner interface while the liaison group is on
recess. Post believes that continued senior-level engagement
with the AU on the issue of AMIS future will be critical.
6. (SBU) The AU needs reassurance that partners are committed
to enhancing African peacekeeping capability in the period
before transition to a UN mission in Darfur, through seeking
the re-hatting of some AU troops, and in the future through
the African Standby Force and other AU-led efforts. The
liaison group, which meets twice-weekly with the AU to pursue
Darfur objectives, can be reconfigured as a working group to
assist the AU with implementing mutually-agreed priorities
from the assessment mission recommendations. Reinvigorating
the liaison group will require AU willingness to dialogue on
strategic issues and to accept additional partner technical
assistance, including a request for NATO expertise for
command and control functions. It will also require closer
coordination between capitals and partner embassies in Addis
Ababa.
7. (SBU) Post looks forward to working with Washington and
key partners to bring about a positive and supportable PSC
ADDIS ABAB 00004199 002 OF 002
decision, as well as to improve AMIS capacity to address
challenges in Darfur before a hopeful UN transition.
HUDDLESTON