SUDAN/DARFUR: EGYPTIAN VIEWS ON RE-HATTING AMIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000970 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO EG SU UNSC SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: EGYPTIAN VIEWS ON RE-HATTING AMIS MISSION TO UN OPERATION REF: STATE 22854 Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a February 13 meeting with MFA UN Affairs Office Director Hani Saleem, poloff discussed GOE views on re-hatting the African Union's Darfur Mission (AMIS-II) to a UN operation (reftel). Saleem noted that Egypt had concerns regarding the impact that such a transition might have on the Abuja political process, the credibility of the African Union as an institution, and on Egyptian personnel in Sudan. Saleem expressed concern that the AMIS mission might become a "lame duck" operation once it was clear to all that the UN would take over. Saleem noted that Egypt did not object to the transition in principle, and offered his "personal view" that Egypt (and Sudan) would be comforted by additional statements by the U.S. and other Security Council members and donors that AMIS would be fully funded and strongly supported in the interim phase before the UN took over. It was crucial, he added, that the maximum number of AMIS forces be re-hatted and that an African be selected as force commander. Saleem believed it would be easier to move the Sudanese in the right direction were the U.S. and other key players to continue making clear public statements aimed at ensuring the African Union did not lose support or credibility in the transition. ¶2. (U) Separately, Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa met February 11 in Cairo with the Chairman of the AU Commission Alpha Omar Konare. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Moussa said that the Darfur issue ranked high on his agenda for an expected February 12 visit to Khartoum to discuss a late-March Arab League summit in Sudan. Regarding the re-hatting issue, Moussa said that the Arab League backed the move, provided the Government of Sudan approved the decision. ¶3. (C) Egyptian Assistant Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Higazy may raise the re-hatting issue February 24 in Washington during bilateral Africa consultations with A/S Frazer. Egypt, which has been a significant contributor of civilian observers and police monitors to the AMIS mission, is concerned that the transition could further destabilize Darfur, thereby increasing the risk to its nationals within Sudan. Egypt, once it takes a seat on the African Union's Peace and Security Council March 14 of this year, will be in a much better position to make its influence felt on the Darfur issue. RICCIARDONE