IRISH ROLE IN AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SUDAN (AMIS)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000564 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2016 TAGS: PREL SOCI EAID SU EI SUBJECT: IRISH ROLE IN AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SUDAN (AMIS) REF: A. SECSTATE 77588 ¶B. DUBLIN 531 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Mary E. Daly, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On May 18, emboff delivered ref A points to Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Sub-Saharan Africa Section First Secretary Anne Byrne. Byrne said that the GOI supports the Darfur Peace Agreement and the African Union's push for a transition to a UN peacekeeping force. She added that Ireland is demonstrating that support through the following: Humanitarian Assistance -------------- --Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern remarked in a May 4 parliamentary question session that in 2004-2005, Ireland contributed euro 1.5m to humanitarian, human rights and policing aspects of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the EU provided an additional euro 160m in support through the African Peace Facility. He also said that the EU will soon support AMIS with a further euro 50m. He added that in 2005 Ireland provided almost euro 3m in emergency funding for humanitarian needs in Darfur alone and over euro 2m has been provided so far this year for the same purpose. According to the Foreign Minister, at Ireland's initiative, EU ambassadors in Khartoum have been requested to raise the need for improved humanitarian access directly with the Sudanese authorities. Military Support -------------- --Byrne said that Ireland currently has three members of the Irish Permanent Defense Forces serving in the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). She added that another officer served in AMIS in 2004-2005, making four military personnel in total. Irish JEM Connection -------------- ¶2. (C) Per ref B., emboff queried Byrne on the status of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Secretary of Training and Strategic Planning Irish resident Dr. Abdullahi El-Tom. According to Byrne, the GOI is having difficulties locating El-Tom. She said that he is not in Ireland, and is likely to be in Abuja, Khartoum or Addis Ababa. She added that once the GOI establishes contact with him, he will be encouraged to influence JEM to sign to the Darfur Peace Agreement. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit Dublin's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/dublin/index. cfm Kenny