DEMARCHE ON AMIS RE-HATTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000365 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 TAGS: PREL SU KPKO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON AMIS RE-HATTING REF: SECSTATE 23622 Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Cameron Hume for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) On February 14 CDA Hume spoke again with MFA Under Secretary Mutriff regarding the need to arrange a transition SIPDIS of peace-keeping responsibility in Darfur from the African Union to the United Nations. Hume pointed out that the immediate need was for an African Union request to the UN for re-hatting. Such a request would facilitate the holding of a donors, conference to arrange funding for the continuation of the AMIS operation until such time as the UN would assume responsibility. The United States was a strong supporter of AMIS and would continue its support during this transitional period. However, it was important that the UN move forward with its planning now. ¶2. (C) Mutriff did not respond directly. He recalled that he and the CDA had discussed this issue previously and stated that the government was still considering its position. It had put off is own scheduled consultations with the African Union in Addis on February 14 because its own position was not yet set, and it had requested the AU to postpone its scheduled meeting with international partners set for February 15. Mutriff said that President Bashir was currently visiting southern Sudan with VP Kiir and that the government would not have an official position on this issue until after the president,s return. HUME