THE GAMBIA: EXPANSION OF CIVPOL CONTINGENT IN

UNCLAS BANJUL 000033 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y--CAPTION ADDED SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MARR KPKO SU GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: EXPANSION OF CIVPOL CONTINGENT IN DARFUR REF: 05 BANJUL 683 ET AL ¶1. (U) Interior Minister informed us that the GOTG has expanded its civpol contingent in Darfur from 29 to 96 persons, reporting that the additional 67 police officers departed for Sudan in recent days. Besides the civpol contribution, the Gambian contingent in Darfur includes 196 troops and a handful of military observers. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: As previously reported (reftel),some months ago the AU approached the GOTG about possibly expanding its troop contingent from company to battalion size. Gambian officials indicate a readiness to increase the Darfur contingent to a battalion in 2007, but that doing so in 2006 is not feasible due to the Gambian military's domestic security related duties this year in connection with the July AU summit and October presidential elections. END COMMENT. STAFFORD