DARFUR: AU SITREP 1 FEBRUARY 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000304 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AF/E, D:SMITH. LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS. E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 TAGS: PREL MASS KPKO SU AU SUBJECT: DARFUR: AU SITREP 1 FEBRUARY 2006 REF: A. STATE 1351 ¶B. ADDIS ABABA 140 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VICKI HUDDLESTON. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The African Union (AU) is working with partners in a technical committee to implement December joint assessment mission recommendations to improve AMIS performance, but this committee is not empowered to consider steps necessary to effect a transition to a UN mission. The AU faces a budget gap of 4.7 million dollars to sustain the mission until the currently-authorized March 31 mandate, but from April will face a shortfall of approximately 20 million per month until a UN transition -- not including accommodations costs currently covered by the USG. AU staff responsible for African Standby Force (ASF) development will join NATO training for the Darfur Integrated Task Force (DITF) from February 6. The AU Commission is likely to seek more concrete information on pledges to ensure AMIS is funded through the transition phase and that the African character of the mission will be retained in order to produce a positive outcome during the March foreign ministers-level Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting on the future of AMIS. End summary. -------------- - ENHANCING AMIS PERFORMANCE BEFORE A TRANSITION -------------- - ¶2. (C) The DITF set up a technical committee with partner participation (including UN, NATO, EU and UK) to develop a roadmap for implementation of March and December joint assessment mission recommendations. Terms of reference for the committee will be finalized the week of January 30. The AU aims to effect improvements to AMIS performance by the end of April. The Technical Committee is not mandated to look into preparations necessary to effect a handover to the UN, but UN representatives are starting to engage with relevant AU partners on the disposition of equipment and other items following a transition. UN representatives state that, once the USG UNSC Presidency secures the required green light, a UN planning team will travel to the field to work discretely on transition requirements before the deployment of a 30-person strong technical assessment team. The AU would need to ask the UN to participate in compiling documents for the March PSC. Also according to UN representatives, Head of the UN Assistance Cell to the AU MG Anyidoho has been deployed to Abuja in order to better inform an eventual UN mission on security arrangements and challenges. ¶3. (SBU) Continued British-funded delivery of vehicles, Dutch-funded delivery of communications equipment, Canadian-funded delivery of APCs, and USG-funded delivery of equipment to enable AMIS night flights contribute to enhanced AMIS performance. However, the AU has yet to succeed in having the Sudanese government lift its curfew in Darfur, which renders AMIS night operation nearly impossible. The AU is about to finalize AMIS rules of engagement (ROE),which have already been distributed to the sectors. ¶4. (SBU) NATO teams will travel to Addis Ababa and El Fasher from February 6-17 to conduct capacity-building training for AU headquarters and field staff. The AU has authorized officers responsible for the African Standby Force to participate in the same NATO training course. The DITF is in the process of recruiting up to 10 staff to work with the Canadian Information Analysis Cell at the DITF to produce an indigenous AU open-source information collection, analysis and dissemination, as well as map-making, capability. ¶5. (SBU) DITF Head Amb. Ki Doulaye told the partners liaison group which meets twice-weekly with the AU that AU media staff will be available to meet with partner experts after NATO training is complete in order to exchange ideas to improve AMIS media strategy and public outreach. ¶6. (SBU) The DITF is awaiting field comment on the Joint Operations Center (JOC) structure. According to DITF staff, outgoing Force Commander Okonkwo disagreed with command and control proposals for the JOC. Amb. Ki Doulaye stated his intention to deploy officers to staff the JOC, but the AU has yet to comment on partner offers for assistance. -------------- -------------- REASSURING AFRICA TO SECURE A FINAL TRANSITION DECISION -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The AU Commission and Addis-based African diplomats expressed interest in USG proposals to ensure that AMIS is ADDIS ABAB 00000304 002 OF 002 funded throughout a transition period, and to retain the African character of a UN mission through re-hatting AMIS troops and working to secure an African Force Commander or Deputy Force Commander (Ref A). These same officials, though, also seek more details on how these results will be achieved. ¶8. (SBU) The DITF is revising budget estimates at the request of Peace and Security Commissioner Amb. Said Djinnit. As of February 1, the AU reports a shortfall of 4.7 million dollars to fund AMIS through March 31, and a 20 million dollar monthly gap thereafter until an AMIS transition to a UN mission. (Note: This shortfall does not take into account accommodations and related costs, currently funded by the USG. End note). The British decision to fund AMIS ground fuel needs from November 15, 2005, through March 31, 2006, will slightly reduce, but not eliminate, the gap. According to European Commission Delegation representatives, the February 1 EU PSC requested a comprehensive report on Sudan, including AMIS funding, to enable a decision on whether to disburse an additional 40 to 50 million euros. The EU also wants to see other partners increase contributions before making a final decision. Amb. Djinnit, who recently traveled to New York for consultations with the UN in preparation for the planned February 20 Darfur Conference in Brussels, emphasizes the need for clarity on how the AMIS funding gap will be addressed. ¶9. (C) The AU Commission wants to submit a detailed report to the March PSC to enable a final decision on AMIS transition. In the AU's eyes, this report should contain specific information on the modalities of transition, including how to retain the African character of the mission. The AU Commission fears an uphill battle with Sudan and its supporters and emphasizes the need to reassure member states. (Note: This concern translates to extra AU caution when it comes to additional NATO engagement at this stage. Amb. Djinnit has made clear his view that NATO support is value-added, but wants to take NATO support one step at a time while AMIS transition remains an issue. End note). HUDDLESTON