NEW AU COMMANDER IN DARFUR SHOULD VISIT WASHINGTON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000437 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2016 TAGS: PREL KPKO UN AU SUBJECT: NEW AU COMMANDER IN DARFUR SHOULD VISIT WASHINGTON Classified By: CDA: Cameron Hume for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Maj. Gen. C.R.U. Ihakirhe (Nigeria),the new commander of the AU peace-keeping mission in Darfur (AMIS),has staked out a forward-leaning position for his troops. As he told CODEL Pelosi on February 19, he is determined to "take control of the area" that his troops operate in. His concept of operations explicitly includes establishing security and protecting civilians. In his first weeks as commander he has reviewed the ongoing operations and decided that AMIS would perform better if its operating areas were consolidated and its lines of command and control were simplified. ¶2. (C) Ihakirhe wants to use the interim period before a transfer of the peace-keeping operation to UN authority to good purpose. According to the briefing presented to CODEL Pelosi, he believes that an enlarged force of 14 battalions, up from the current 8, should be the goal. However, he is getting started with what he has. He sees a need for some heavier weapons, better troop mobility, communications and intelligence, but his preferred options do not include some of the add-ons suggested by the UN. He is already working to improve leadership within his ranks. The briefing, initially presented by Maj. Mustapha (Ghana) made a strong, positive impression on CODEL members. ¶3. (C) After the meeting CDA Hume asked Ihakirhe if he would be willing to travel to Washington to brief administration officials. Ihakirhe said he was ready to do so and would look forward to an opportunity to share views on how peace-keepers could best help to solve the Darfur crisis. ¶4. (C) Recommendaton: I strongly recommend that Ihakirhe and Maj Mustapha be invited to Washington to brief on the current security situation in Darfur and his interim plans to strengthen AMIS. We should urge him to include a stop in New York so that he can brief and share views with UN planners. HUME