EGYPT QUESTIONS RE-HATTING AFRICAN UNION MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000087

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS EG SU UNSC
SUBJECT: EGYPT QUESTIONS RE-HATTING AFRICAN UNION MISSION
IN SUDAN

REF: STATE 1351 (NOTAL)

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche January 5 to MFA Sudan
Affairs Office Director Marsam Marzouk, seeking GOE support
within the African Union (AU) to "re-hat" the AU's Darfur
mission. Marzouk said that there was little support within
Africa for such a move, as it signified AU "failure" in its
first major peacekeeping operation. Egypt, he said, believed
that every effort should be exerted to support the
one-year-old mission. "This is not a good precedent for the
future," he said, and it may discourage the African Union
from taking bold steps in other problem areas. Marzouk said
he would share the message with his Minister promptly, but
was unable to provide a firm GOE position on the U.S.
request.


2. (U) Khartoum minimize considered.

RICCIARDONE