AMIS RE-HAT: REPUBLIC OF CONGO NOTES SUDANESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000680 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, D, IO/PSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016 TAGS: KPKO NATO PREL SU AU SUBJECT: AMIS RE-HAT: REPUBLIC OF CONGO NOTES SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BRIEF AFRICAN PERM REPS REF: STATE 036548 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. JANET WILGUS. REASON: 1.4 (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Congo's foreign minister will attend the March 10 PSC on AMIS transition, as well as a March 9 briefing in Addis Ababa (requested by the GNU) at which Sudan's foreign minister will brief African Union Permanent Representative Committee members. While acknowledging the weakness of AMIS and the need for a transition period, Congo will attend such meetings "without prejudice," and will act according to undisclosed instructions from AU assembly chair Congo President Sassou-Nguesso. Congo recommends engaging Egypt, which it believes played a "helpful role" in addressing Sudan's bid for AU chairmanship. Additional information on specific USG support that may be provided during such a transition period would be useful for PSC members. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Charge accompanied by deputy pol/econ counselor, presented reftel points on March 8 to the Republic of Congo's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Raymond Serge Bale, and to ROC Minister Counselor Prosper Sica. Charge underscored the need for the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) to make a clear decision on the transition of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) at its March 10 meeting, and noted that AF A/S Frazer had been traveling in Libya. Charge also noted that Sudan's objections to UN and NATO forces were questionable, as both were already playing a role in Sudan. She observed that the AU's February 15 consultative meeting with partner (i.e., non-member state) countries had recognized the achievements of AMIS and discussed maintaining its African character. A transition from a short-term AMIS would free AU resources to deploy to other areas of concern, such as Comoros or the DRC, she said. While the USG was building the AU's capacity, a more robust and experienced peace-keeping force was needed. By better identifying culpability for attacks, a UN mission could even help the GNU avoid blame for attacks for which it was not responsible, she said. -------------- -------------- SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO BRIEF PERM REPS MARCH 9 -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The Republic of Congo's foreign minister was traveling to Addis Ababa on March 9 from Paris, Amb. Bale said, adding that the PSC was a "matter of high importance" for the ROC, as AU chair. Amb. Bale said that he had met with Sudan's charge in Addis Ababa on March 7, and that Sudan's foreign minister would brief members of the AU's Permanent Representatives Committee on March 9, a meeting that had been requested by the GNU. Congo would attend the meeting "without prejudice," he said. He noted that the GNU would host Arab League members on March 21. ¶4. (C) Amb. Bale said that Charge's points echoed those made by AU Commission Chairman Konare in his report to the PSC, namely that a more experienced force was needed in Darfur. While that could include troops under UN auspices, it was up to individual countries to contribute troops, he said. Noting "a lot of elements in favor of this transfer," Amb. Bale said that Congo was aware of the "weakness" of AMIS and acknowledged it may be time to pass responsibility to the UN. "We are for a transition period," he said, (which would last six to nine months) so long as it received financial support. On the other hand, he said, Congo's foreign minister would act according to instructions from ROC President Sassou-Nguesso. ¶5. (C) Amb. Bale recommended engaging Egypt, which he said played a helpful role at the AU summit in Khartoum in addressing Sudan's bid for AU assembly chairmanship. ¶6. (C) Amb. Bale requested information on the type of support the USG would provide during transition. Charge responded that this had been discussed at the February 15 consultative meeting. She underscored that ad hoc funding for AMIS could not continue; funds to strengthen and equip AMIS further would be possible only if there an end-state for the mission. Amb. Bale noted that the GNU was seeking USD160 million from non-Western donors to boost AMIS, although its monthly cost was far more. "Funding is an issue, but not the only issue," he said. WILGUS