IMAT UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000711 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, AF/RSA - BITTRICK AND KENNEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MARR MOPS SU SUBJECT: IMAT UPDATE REF: A. KHARTOUM 133 ¶B. KHARTOUM 533 Classified By: Political Officer Ron Capps for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (U) This is an action request ) see para 11. -------------- Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) Troika Plus representatives met in Khartoum on March 19 to discuss the current status of the International Military Advisory Team (IMAT). The UK Ministry of Defense is considering bilateral military advising to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) if the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are uninterested. However, the SAF is showing some interest, but on its terms. Norway is considering sending BG Wilhelmsen to Abuja at the request of the African Union. Following a comment from the MFA to the UK ambassador that some countries would be more acceptable than others as a part of IMAT, the U.S. proposed expanding the training component of IMAT to include African countries, possibly including ACOTA nations. The NISS has occupied the former JMC/IMAT building, but appears to be looking for a way to get out. End Summary. -------------- Options Available -------------- ¶3. (C) UK ambassador Ian Cliff briefed representatives from Troika Plus (UK, U.S., Norway, and the Netherlands) about recent developments concerning IMAT. Cliff said that he had met with Minister of Defense Rahim on March 16. Rahim told him the Sudanese MOD had been studying the IMAT concept paper Cliff had presented to it six months prior, and commented that the concept was "much on the lines of what is required." Rahim suggested that he and Cliff should form the core of a technical committee to discuss the way forward. The committee: MFA, MOD, National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS),with Cliff and his Defense Attache (COL Tim Watts),representing the Troika Plus nations, will meet on April 10. Cliff raised the issue of the NISS raid on the IMAT office with Rahim (ref B) calling it "an outrageous act;" Rahim reacted with surprise that the IMAT offices had been visited. ¶4. (C) Following his discussion of the meeting with Rahim, Cliff announced to the Troika Plus representatives that the UK MOD was considering a unilateral program with the SPLA if the SAF was uninterested. -------------- "Some Countries More Acceptable than Others" -------------- ¶5. (C) Rahim told Cliff that the choice of nations participating would be important, because some countries are "more acceptable than others" to the Sudanese Government. Cliff did not press Rahim on this issue, and the point remained unclear to those in the room which countries it would consider less favorable. Cliff took the comment to be a clear nod against the U.S, but the Dutch ambassador thought it meant Germany, or maybe Canada. ¶6. (C) Given the lack of clarity, U.S. Defense Liaison Officer (DLO) raised the possibility of adding some African countries into the mix - particularly Kenya or South Africa. (Note: Not raised at the table but worth USG consideration is whether ACOTA might play a role as well. End note.) -------------- Last Man Standing -------------- ¶7. (C) There remains but a single IMAT officer in Sudan, a Dutch navy captain. IMAT chief Norwegian BG Wilhelmsen, who left Sudan on a planned vacation on February 27, remains in Norway. The Norwegian DCM noted that the AU had requested Wilhelmsen come to Abuja to assist in the talks; Norway is considering the request. ¶8. (C) Officers of the NISS have occupied the former JMC/IMAT office building, but have attempted to find and contact the landlord, in what Cliff assumed was an attempt to unburden themselves of the building. The sole IMAT officer remaining is living in the IMAT team house, which now has a British Embassy plaque on the front gate - somewhat unofficially, Cliff noted. KHARTOUM 00000711 002 OF 002 ¶9. (C) UK and Dutch ambassadors chose to not renew the lease on the IMAT office to save money, but to keep the local staff of eight on the payroll for the time being. The Dutch officer will remain in Sudan, assigned to the Embassy. -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶10. (C) Cliff (representing the Troika Plus) and the Sudanese Government will sit down to re-design an IMAT-like entity on April 10. The next Friends of IMAT meeting is scheduled for April 11. Ref A and B highlighted Embassy suggestions on how USG might support IMAT. As noted above, DLO suggested that other African nations' troops, including ACOTA troops, might be employed in an advisory role, augmenting Troika Plus officers. ¶11. (C) Action requested: Embassy requests guidance prior to April 11 on the nature and extent of possible USG assistance that could be offered to IMAT. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Rahim, according to Cliff, said the Sudanese Armed Forces "were keen to re-establish contact with the UK: all the best Sudanese officers had been trained at Sandhurst." If there is even a hint of sincerity in that comment, it represents a crack in the growing campaign against "foreign" intervention and bears continued observation. If the UK can begin military-to-military training with soldiers from the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs),the U.S. should consider accepting some JIU troops and officers into our training system, as well as providing significant support to IMAT. Western influence will be critical to keeping the core of the next Sudanese military from simply replacing and replicating the current SAF. STEINFELD