UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001736

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, EUR/RPM, IO/PSC, D:T.SMITH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPKO MOPS NATO PREL SU AU UN
SUBJECT: AU AGREES WITH PARTNER NOMINATIONS TO STAFF FJMHQ

REF: ADDIS ABABA 1581


1. Summary. The African Union (AU) notified its partners
via note verbale June 22 that it had no objections to the
partners providing all six personnel requested as advisors to
the AMIS Joint Forward Headquarters in El Fasher.
Furthermore, the AU had no objections to the partners'
nominations for specific positions, including the United
States' request to staff the information analysis (J2) and
civil-military cooperation roles. End Summary.


2. The AU Commission formally requested six advisors to
staff specific positions in the Joint Operations Center of
AMIS in a May 18 note verbale to partners (forwarded by Post
to AF/SPG and AF/SE) outlining the proposed structure of a
Forward Joint Mission Headquarters, that would be headed by a
newly created AMIS Deputy Head of Mission. In its note
verbale, the AU explained that the JOC, an intelligence
element, Force Generation and Campaign Plan Unit, and
Civil-Military Cooperation Unit (CIMIC), were to be
subordinate to a Joint Operations Staff and a Joint Logistics
Staff to the headed by a Joint Chief of Staff. The Joint
Chief of Staff, in turn, would report to the AMIS Deputy Head
of Mission.


3. In response to this request, Addis-based partner
representatives sent a note verbale June 13 to the AU
proposing the following nominations: UN will provide the
requested advisor to the officer in charge of plans (J5), as
that will facilitate planning for the transition of AMIS to a
UN peacekeeping operation; the USG will provide advisors for
the officers in charge of information analysis (J2) and
civil-military cooperation (J9); and the EU will provide an
advisor for the officer in charge of operations (J3), as well
as a military advisor and a police advisor for the Joint
Chief of Staff.


4. On June 22, post received the following note verbale:

Begin text:

Ref. PSD/DITF/NV/2130

The Commission of the African Union (AU) presents its
complements to the Partners in Addis Ababa, and has the
honour to acknowledge receipt of its note verbale dated 13
June 2006, regarding the Partners response to provide all the
six personnel requested as advisors to the Joint Forward
Headquarters in El Fasher.

The Commission wishes to state that it has no objection to
the nominations and looks forward to their early deployment
to facilitate the actualisation of the Joint Forward
Headquarters. The Commission would also like to inform the
Partners that efforts are far advanced to recruit the Joint
Chief of Staff and his Deputy to accelerate the
implementation of the JTFHQ.

The Commission of the African Union avails itself of this
opportunity to renew to the Partners in Addis Ababa the
assurances of its high consideration.

Addis Ababa, 22 June 2006

End text.
HUDDLESTON