SUDAN: APPARENT GREEN LIGHT FOR PHASE I LIGHT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002908 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR AF/FO, AF/SE, AF/SPG, AND AF/RSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2016 TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF PHUM PGOV AU UN SU SUBJECT: SUDAN: APPARENT GREEN LIGHT FOR PHASE I LIGHT PACKAGE FOR DARFUR REF: KHARTOUM 02904 Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On December 26, UN Chief Political Advisor told Pol/Econ Counselor that the just ended tripartite meeting (AU, UN, and Sudanese Government) in Khartoum had achieved consensus to send 35 ) 43 blue bereted UN military staff officers and police advisors to El Fasher, Darfur, within the week to implement the Phase I "light package" for peacekeeping in Darfur. Abiodun said that he believed 20 or so military staff officers and 15 police advisors would be sent initially, although the UN had provided the names of 43 military staff officers and 24 police advisors to the Sudanese Government. Abiodun described the approach as "fast track." (Note: This account corroborates reftel account of UN peacekeeping developments. End note.) ¶2. (C) Abiodun noted that the meeting had not discussed Phase II, the "heavy package," which would be covered in the future (date unspecified). ¶3. (C) Comment: Of the three specific action items pushed during recent visit of Special Envoy Natsios, the government of Sudan has acted positively on two: the extension of the moratorium for humanitarian workers and the approval of UN plans for the Phase I light package. In a P-5 meeting with the UN Deputy Special Rep on December 27, CDA will emphasize the need to push ahead for agreement on the Phase II heavy package. End Comment. HUME