SUDANESE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO THE GAMBIA:

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000572 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO GA SU AU SUBJECT: SUDANESE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO THE GAMBIA: REJECTION OF BLUE-HATTING Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) During his September 13-14 visit here, Sudanese President Bashir indicated no easing of his opposition to blue-hatting, while praising the AMIS operation, denying any desire to have it removed, and advocating its continuation. Gambian President Jammeh was supportive of Bashir's stance. END SUMMARY. OVERVIEW OF VISIT -------------- ¶2. (U) Sudanese President Bashir paid an 18-hour visit to The Gambia September 13-14, holding a tete-a-tete meeting with Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, attending a state dinner in his honor, and meeting with the press before departure. There was no communique issued on Bashir's consultations here. NO EASING OF OPPOSITION TO BLUE-HATTING -------------- ¶3. (U) In his media remarks, Bashir showed no give in his opposition to blue-hatting, asserting, "we reject a UN force." He lamented that having adhered to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),the GOS "immediately came under pressure" to accept blue-hatting; in murky logic, he asserted rebel elements opposed to the DPA had been encouraged by the push for a UN force and, with support from "some neighboring countries," worked to "undermine" the accord from the moment it had been concluded. ¶4. (U) Bashir accused proponents of blue-hatting of having a "secret agenda," rather than "peace in Darfur," remarking that GOS concerns on this score were reinforced by UNSCR 1706, which, he said, would amount to the "re-colonization of Sudan" if implemented. Saying Sudan had been the first sub-Saharan African country to free itself from colonialsm, he stated that the idea of its being the first to be "re-colonized" was simply unacceptable. Bashir rejected the argument that blue-hatting was necessary to ensure adequate funding, saying the Arab League had agreed to fund AMIS for six months. Noting the AU decision to send an 8,000-man peacekeeping force to Somalia, Bashir asserted that in due course there would also be pressure to place that force under UN auspices. BASHIR'S SUPPORT FOR AMIS -------------- ¶5. (U) Bashir coupled his negative remarks about blue-hatting with laudatory comments on AMIS, denying any GOS pressure for its removal and stating, "we insist that they (AMIS) continue their mission." He portrayed the AU and AMIS as playing a "very constructive, positive role in monitoring the cease-fire," describing it as a "successful" first-ever AU peacekeeping operation that should be allowed to proceed. He spoke repeatedly of the GOS' "surprise" at the idea that the AU, having been entrusted with "security arrangements" under the DPA, should now cede its role to the UN under blue-hatting. JAMMEH'S SUPPORT FOR BASHIR -------------- ¶6. (U) In remarks serving as an endorsement of Bashir's stance, Jammeh said the deployment of foreign forces in any country required the consent of its government, adding that "Darfur is not so complex that African Union forces cannot solve it." Praising Gambian forces' participation in AMIS, he called on the international community to provide adequate resources to sustain AMIS, stating that "ending its mission" would amount to an "insult to Africans." COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) This is Bashir's second visit to The Gambia in recent months; he also attended the AU Summit here in July. Bashir's precise agenda for this latest visit is unclear; if his objective was simply to promote another African leader's support for his opposition to blue-hatting, he succeeded, judging from Jammeh's remarks. At the same time, the value of Jammeh's endorsement is limited, to say the least, given The Gambia's modest regional weight. END COMMENT. STAFFORD