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.
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