Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA1336
2006-05-12 16:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

SUDAN-AU PSC DEMARCHE: PSC WILL LIKELY NOT ADDRESS

Tags:  PREL SU KPKO AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3095
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #1336/01 1321634
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121634Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0526
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE PRIORITY 0705
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001336 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU KPKO AU
SUBJECT: SUDAN-AU PSC DEMARCHE: PSC WILL LIKELY NOT ADDRESS
AMIS CONOPS

REF: A. STATE 75873 (NOTAL)

B. DHANANI-WILGUS EMAIL OF MAY 12 2006 (NOTAL)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001336

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU KPKO AU
SUBJECT: SUDAN-AU PSC DEMARCHE: PSC WILL LIKELY NOT ADDRESS
AMIS CONOPS

REF: A. STATE 75873 (NOTAL)

B. DHANANI-WILGUS EMAIL OF MAY 12 2006 (NOTAL)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The African Union Commission anticipates
that the upcoming May 15 AU Peace and Security Council
meeting will address the implementation of the previous March
PSC on AMIS transition, but will not discuss a new CONOPs for
AMIS. Separately, Gabon notes that it only learned of the
PSC today, and has yet to receive an agenda. Thus, Gabon
believes the PSC will not make any significant new decisions
and will simply endorse the decisions taken in March. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On May 12, DCM, accompanied by deputy pol-econ
counselor, presented reftel points on the upcoming May 15
African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) to Amb. John
Kayode Shinkayie, Director of the Cabinet for AU Commission
Chairperson Konare. DCM also urged that Peace and Security
Commission Amb. Said Djinnit consider briefing key partners
on the outcome of the PSC. (NOTE: AU Chairperson Konare was
not available, having just returned from a visit to Europe.
Amb. Djinnit was also traveling, due to return late on May 12
after having led the AU delegation participating in a May 6
AU Commission-European Commission consultation in Vienna.
The resulting AU-EU communique, which endorses the recently
concluded Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),has been forwared to
AF/SPG and AF. END NOTE.)


3. (SBU) Shinkayie responded that the May 15 PSC would likely
address reftel points, and that the resulting communique
would be immediately released following the meeting. He
acknowledged that the previous March 10 PSC had required
"careful language" (about transition from an AU to a UN-led
mission in Sudan) in order to gain consensus, but said that
the current political climate had improved enough to allow
the Council to speak "more forthrightly."

--------------
WAHID CONTINUES DISCUSSIONS WITH IBOK
--------------


4. (SBU) Shinkayie added that discussions with SLA chairman
Abdul Wahid continued in Abuja, with AU Darfur mediator Amb.
Sam Ibok. Shinkayie said it was possible that Wahid could
sign the DPA, having asked for clarification of some of the
DPA's key articles, which would leave only the JEM as
non-signatories.

--------------
GABON HAS NOT RECEIVED AGENDA FOR PSC
--------------


5. (SBU) DCM also presented reftel points earlier to Amb.
Sahilework Zewdie, Ethiopia's representative to the AU and
UNECA, and the MFA's Director-General for African Affairs.
Amb. Sahilework said she was pleased with the Abuja
agreement, and noted that implementation would be difficult.


6. (SBU) According to Embassy Libreville (ref B),Deputy
Minister Jean Francois Ndongou stated that Gabon only learned
of the upcoming PSC on March 12, and had not yet received any
agenda for the meeting. Gabon would be represented by its
ambassador in Addis Ababa. As a result, he said, the PSC
could not take any significant new steps, and will likely
only endorse the decisions taken in March. Ndongou stated
that Gabon would support an AU call for UNSC sanctions
against nonsignatory rebels.

--------------
PSC LIKELY WILL NOT ADDRESS AMIS CONOPS
--------------


7. (SBU) In a May 11 briefing to U.S., Canadian, and EU
partner representatives, AU Commission Darfur Integrated Task
Force (AU/DITF) Military Component Head LTC Mbaye announced
that the May 15 PSC would not/not address a new concept of
operations (CONOPS) for the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
(NOTE: LTC Mbaye recently led a 3-person AU/DITF team to El
Fasher; he stated that the preparation of a new CONOPS was
his responsibility, but said it had not yet been completed
and would likely not be completed before the May 15 PSC. END
NOTE.) According to DITF Head Amb. Ki Doulaye Corentin, the

ADDIS ABAB 00001336 002 OF 002


ministerial-level PSC would likely address:
-- implementation of the March 10 PSC;
-- the recently concluded Abuja talks and their outcome;
-- coordination with the UN;
-- "robust interpretation" of AMIS's mandate in the field.


8. (U) EU Special Representative for Sudan Pekka Haavisto
will arrive in Addis Ababa with other EU representatives on
May 15, according to EC contacts, for possible consultations
on the margins of the PSC.
HUDDLESTON