DARFUR: STAFFING CFC AND JC MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002816 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: PREL KPKO APER MARR SU AU US SUBJECT: DARFUR: STAFFING CFC AND JC MEETINGS Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Following the May 5 signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement and the arrival of new African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Force Commander Major General Aprezi, Ceasefire Commission (CFC) meetings take place twice each week in El Fasher, Darfur. In the past, the U.S. Observer to these important meeting has included Defense Liaison Officer officers, S/CRS TDYers, Pol/Econ Officers, and Military Observers (Mil Obs) assigned to AMIS. Due to our current security drawdown (reftel),and inability of either the incoming Defense Liaison Officer or Country Coordination Element (CCE) officers based at CJTF HOA to obtain visas, we are at present covering CFC meetings with El Fasher-based Mil Obs. This temporary solution is less than ideal; post is coordinating with Embassy Addis Ababa to gain CCE visas as soon as possible to provide ongoing CFCcoverage my uniformed U.S. military officers. ¶2. (C) Furthermore, Joint Commission (JC) meetings generally are held in Addis Ababa every two months. We anticipate that the next JC meeting would be o/a December 15. In the past, Embassy Khartoum has sent TDY Senior Security Advisor Tod Wilson to participate. His term of service at Embassy Khartoum, however, has ended, leaving post without a JC participant. HUME