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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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