AU-UN JOINT ASSESSMENT MISSION BRIEFS ON AMIS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001391

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR AU UN SU
SUBJECT: AU-UN JOINT ASSESSMENT MISSION BRIEFS ON AMIS TO
UN PKO TRANSITION (CORRECTED COPY)

REF: KHARTOUM 00953

Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: During a June 11 briefing of the diplomatic
community, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Djinnit and UN
U/S General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno
said their joint mission seeks to strengthen AMIS and prepare
for a possible transition to a UN peacekeeping operation.
During a lengthy discussion period, diplomats inquired about
opposition to the Darfur Peace Agreement, Sudanese Government
attitudes toward re-hatting, state sovereignty concerns, the
need to publicize the Darfur peace Agreement, the importance
of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue process in developing local
ownership of the peace agreement, timelines for future
actions, and the threat of jihad. End summary.

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AU-UN Mission to Strengthen AMIS and Prep for Transition
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2. (C) In a June 11 briefing of the diplomatic corps at the
UN compound in Khartoum, AU Peace and Security Commissioner
Said Djinnit and UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping
Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno provided an overview of their
joint assessment mission to Sudan and Chad. Guehenno,
referring to the mission as a follow-up to the recent visits
of UN A/SG Annabi (reftel) and UNSG Special Representative
Brahimi, stated that this mission had two purposes: to
strengthen the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS)
following the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and
to prepare for a possible transition to a UN peacekeeping
operation.


3. (C) Following meetings with the African Union in Addis
Ababa, and with Sudanese government officials in Khartoum,
the mission will travel to Darfur and Chad. The mission
seeks to strengthen AMIS to provide a good foundation for
future peacekeeping efforts; Guehenno said this would
"broaden the strong core of the African element." Djinnit
added that the mission would give impetus to implementation
of the DPA, launching a process to explain it and to campaign
for its support.

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Dip Corps Questions Darfur Situation
--------------


4. (C) UN SRSG Jan Pronk opened the session for questions
from the diplomatic corps which responded as follows:

-- Kenya: How do the UN and AU feel about the increasing
number of those opposed to the DPA? Djinnit disagreed with
this notion, and said that there were indications that Abdel
Wahid might agree to sign. AU Special Representative Kingibe
also disagreed, and added that the signing of a declaration
of commitment to the DPA by members of Abdel Wahid's faction
was a positive sign. As well, the Darfurian diaspora is
increasingly favoring support for the DPA. Guehenno noted
the need to address efforts to influence those in IDP camps
against the DPA; he added that the DPA window remains open
but involves risks.

-- EU: What is the current Sudanese Government position on
UN re-hatting? Guehenno replied that the Government wishes
to discuss the matter further following the mission's visit
to Darfur. All UN missions rely on good cooperation with
host governments as a matter of legal and logistical
necessity, he added, and the situation will be clearer
following the visit to Darfur. Djinnit said that the
Sudanese Government had not announced its position yet, and
needed the outcome of the AU-UN joint assessment mission
first. It does appreciate, however, that both the AU and UN
are in active discussion.

-- Nigeria: What do the AU and UN think about the opposition
of Darfurian leaders to the DPA? Guehenno said that there
was a recognizable division between those signed and
unsigned. Some may fear deployments of UN peacekeepers.
There is also a risk of political fragmentation in Darfur.
Djinnit added that people were responding negatively to the
DPA without having read it, even as occurred in Abuja during
the peace talks. He said the mission had met with the Fur
paramount chief to discuss the DPA, who saw its value despite
his reservations.

-- Libya: Is the UN aware of Sudan's concerns regarding its
sovereignty and entry by foreign elements? Guehenno said
that the principal of state sovereignty is a founding
principal of the UN, and that the AU-UN mission involved

KHARTOUM 00001391 002 OF 002


close collaboration with the Sudanese government as well as
coordination with regional groups. Peacekeeping operations
will require agreement by the Sudanese Government. UN
involvement in Sudan is a signal of worldwide support for
Darfur, not a substitute for the AU. The African component
it at its core, and UN peacekeeping forces would complement
it. This is similar to the situation in Sierra Leone, where
the UN supported the ECOWAS peacekeeping operation. Djinnit
reminded that Sudan had been unable to deal with the Darfur
crisis unilaterally; in March 2004, Darfur was discussed
internationally as an internal issue for Sudan to resolve.
By May 2004, however, the AU Peace and Security Council
differed, holding that Africa should "come and help." The
key question is of capacity, scope, and magnitude.


-- UK: The UK has offered media experts to assist in
supporting the DPA. Does the Sudanese Government recognize
the need to publicize the DPA? Djinnit said that the
Sudanese Government wants an early DPA implementation. It
does, however, need to help explain it. The AU-UN mission
has the same objective.

-- Germany: The DPA is not comprehensive; time did not allow
detail and not all Darfurians are represented. There are
deficiencies, hence the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and
Consultation is important. Will the AU convene a conference
in Darfur to reach out to the people? Djinnit said it is
important to convey a sense of DPA ownership by the people;
the AU is doing preparatory work to help ensure that the
Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation is owned and led by
the people of Darfur.

-- U.S.: The date of January 1, 2007, is now being used by
the UN as a peacekeeping transition date. What is the near
and medium-term calendar for related events? Guehenno said
the AU Peace and Security Council would meet on June 27, the
AU would hold a summit on July 1-2 in Banjul, and would
furnish a joint report to the UN Security Council in the
first half of July to allow it to make a final decision. The
January 1, 2007 date derived from the need for at least six
months for a transition from AMIS to a UN peacekeeping
operation, which had to take into account the June to
September rainy season in Darfur. Djinnit added that the
timing of the process depended in part on the Sudanese
Government, once issues are addressed and a political agenda
is formed. Events would also include a July 7 pledging
conference in Brussels. Enhancing logistical support and
funding the transition will also take time.

-- Uganda: If the AU and UN recommend a transition from AMIS
to a UN peacekeeping operation and the Sudanese Government
refuses, what is Plan B? Djinnit replied that it was not the
AU's decision to make. Guehenno added that the UN Security
Council and the AU Peace and Security Council would engage
the Sudanese Government to explain the need for such a
transition, "leaving it on the table" for it to decide.

-- Kenya: What do the AU and UN think about the threat of
jihad? Pronk said that the UN remained in regular contact
with the Sudanese Government on this matter, and that the
Government had stated it was aware of the concern and was
controlling the situation. The Government wants to avoid
this, and has taken measures to ensure that it does not
occur. The UN also conducts its own threat assessments in
New York. Kingibe added that the Sudanese Government should
make a public statement to clarify its standing on this
issue.


5. (C) AU Special Representative Kingibe closed with an
expression of appreciation for the various contributions
being made to support AU efforts to bring peace to Darfur.
He noted that the AU benefited from a central pool from which
to draw expertise and assistance; however, he made clear the
need for AU coordination in managing the partnership's
activities.
HUME