GOR POSITION ON AMIS RE-HAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000804 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C AND ACTING A/S AF PITTMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016 TAGS: KPKO PREL UNSC SU RW SUBJECT: GOR POSITION ON AMIS RE-HAT REF: A. STATE 133250 ¶B. KIGALI 731 Classified By: Poloff GLearned, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On 16 August Ambassador reiterated USG position on the UN re-hatting of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) (Ref A) to Rwandan Minister of State in Charge of Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rosemary Museminari. Musemenari had accompanied President Kagame to the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit in Banjul where President Kagame had had a lengthy discussion with President Bashir to encourage him to accept a UN force in Darfur. Museminari emphasized GOR shares the USG position on the AMIS re-hatting, that President Kagame has been engaging President Bashir and there is an on-going dialogue within the AU on the issue. She said she would inform President Kagame of the current US demarche. ¶2. (C) Comment. Museminari's comments are consistent with previous Rwandan statements and actions on AMIS. In a July meeting with the diplomatic corps (Ref B) Museminari and Foreign Minister Murigande both elaborated on the GOR's dissatisfaction with AMIS leadership and Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) Colonel Michael Nkurunziza said the GOR would be happy to commit troops to a UN mission if it had effective leadership. In more candid and private conversations with DATT, RDF officers have related detailed complaints about the political and military leadership of AMIS including the inability of AMIS to pay the over 1,700 RDF troops stationed in Darfur in a timely manner. Post believes that GOR decision makers, including Kagame, recognize that it is in Rwanda's best interest to press Bashir to accept a UN force and will do its best. However, on its own Rwanda does not have significant influence in Sudan and will focus its efforts on exerting pressure through the AU. End comment. ARIETTI