THE EUROPEAN UNION ON REHATTING AMIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000685 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG (RANNEBERGER) AND EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SU KPKO EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: THE EUROPEAN UNION ON REHATTING AMIS REF: A. STATE 32841 B. USUN 348 Classified By: USEU Political Military Officer Jeremy Brenner for reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is a corrected copy of Brussels 679. See para 4. ¶2. (C) Summary. While the EU favors rehatting, they believe Konare is seeking alternative sources of funding for the AMIS mission from the North African states in order to reduce or eliminate the role of other donors. There is growing donor fatigue within the EU and a view that if NATO wants to do it, then, perhaps the EU should cut its losses and let NATO do it. End summary ¶3. (C) USEU Defense Advisor spoke March 1 with Matthew Reece (protect),ESDP Counselor to SG/HR Javier Solana. The EU has long favored the rehatting of AMIS, arguing that the African Union never did have the capacity to plan and run an effective operation on the present scale. According to Reece, AU PSC Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare is in Tripoli seeking Arab League funding for a continued AMIS mission, thereby obviating the need for other donor assistance. He said that Konare is opposed to rehatting because he personally doesn't want to lose his mission. Konare also wants to ensure that the AU retains political control of the process. Reece said that the North African states are against another Western intervention on the continent, and Sudan wants to avoid more effective pressure being placed on its proxies in the conflict. If Konare succeeds in his efforts to secure alternative funding, Reece anticipates that he will take some pleasure in telling Western donors that their assistance is no longer needed. ¶4. (C) Given these circumstances, coupled with a growing donor fatigue within the EU and the ongoing EU-NATO rivalry, Reece said he senses a degree of "wobbliness" developing within the Council General Secretariat with respect to a continued EU role in Darfur. There is a school of thought emerging that argues "if NATO wants to do it, then let NATO do it." Reece contended that he is holding the line against this train of thought. Reece said that Solana will meet with the Council Secretariat staff during the evening of March 1. He will keep us informed of the results. Reece said Solana has not yet engaged the Arab League or North African AU members because he is balancing Darfur against other regional priorities. We will continue to press for EU intervention with the North Africans. Gray .