THE GAMBIA: ENGAGING AU ON AMIS REHAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000019 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL KPKO SU GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: ENGAGING AU ON AMIS REHAT REF: STATE 1351 Classified By: Ambassador Joseph Stafford, reason 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (SBU) Given The Gambia's status as a troop contributing country for AMIS, Ambassador, in January 10 meeting, drew from reftel points to brief Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ebou Taal on U.S.support of UN rehatting of the SIPDIS AMIS operation. Ambassador stressed U.S. objectives of promoting movement ahead toward a UN operation while working to strengthen AMIS in the interim and highlighted our desire to use our UNSC presidency in February to present a resolution authorizing planning for rehatting. He asked that the GOTG, in its contacts with other AU member states, look for ways to promote support for U.S. stance on rehatting. ¶2. (SBU) Taal expressed thanks for the briefing and undertook to share it with the GOTG leadership and get back to us with a substantive reaction. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We view the GOTG as a potentially useful ally in our efforts on behalf of rehatting and recommend that we keep them abreast of our thinking on this dossier. END COMMENT. STAFFORD