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