THE GAMBIA: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON PRESSING AU TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000367 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016 TAGS: PREL MOPS MASS PGOV AU SU GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON PRESSING AU TO REQUEST GREATER NATO ASSISTANCE IN DARFUR REF: A. STATE 84669 ¶B. BANJUL 339 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) ¶1. (C) In recent discussion with Ambassador, the senior Presidential adviser, Secretary General Mambury Njie, raised our previous demarche to urge President Jammeh's intervention with AU Commission Chairman Konare and/or PSC Chair Djinnit on behalf of AU's expeditious acceptance of NATO's offer of assistance to AMIS (refs a and b). Njie said the GOTG shared our view of the crucial need for enhanced NATO assistance to AMIS; he indicated that Jammeh and other senior GOTG officials had weighed in with AU officials per our request and would continue to do so. Ambassador expressed thanks for the GOTG's efforts with the AU. ¶2. (C) The Gambian Chief of Defense Staff, joining the discussion, repeated previous GOTG appeals for direct U.S. assistance to the Gambian contingent with AMIS. Ambassador responded that it remained our policy to channel our assistance to AMIS and troop contributing countries through the AU, in coordination with other donors. STAFFORD