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.

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ENHANCING AMIS PERFORMANCE BEFORE A TRANSITION
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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.

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REASSURING AFRICA TO SECURE A FINAL TRANSITION DECISION
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7. (SBU) The AU Commission and Addis-based African diplomats
expressed interest in USG proposals to ensure that AMIS is

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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