KENYA WAVERS ON AMIS RE-HAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 001107

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU KE
SUBJECT: KENYA WAVERS ON AMIS RE-HAT

REF: SECSTATE 36548

Classified By: PolCouns Michael J. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (B) and
(D)


1. (C) In a March 8 meeting with poloff, Kenyan MFA Head of
International Organizations and Conferences Division Tom
Amolo included Kenya among a group of AU member states
inclined to support the AMIS re-hat. Although this consensus
exists, there are "a few" member states trying to bulldoze
their colleagues into resisting the re-hat. Amolo suggested
that the U.S. needed to reach out to member states at
multiple levels - capitals, Addis Ababa, and New York - to
solidify support for the re-hatting proposal. Amolo was
happy that the U.S. was taking member states' concerns about
the African character of the mission into consideration.


2. (U) Also on March 8, Sudanese Special Envoy Alsamani
Al-wasila met with President Kibaki to advocate extending the
AMIS mandate. A March 9 statement on the Government's web
site said, "Kenya supports initiatives by the African Union
(AU) in resolving the Darfur crisis." There is no mention of
the U.N. or of re-hatting AMIS in the statement.


3. (C) DCM spoke March 9 with Deputy Minister Danson
Mungatana, who will represent Kenya at the PSC meeting.
Mungatana was fully familar with our talking points.
Speaking in measured tones, and not providing much detail,
Mungatana stated that Kenya is looking to adopt a "balanced
approach" to the matter. Following this conversation, DCM
spoke with Amolo, who stated that Kenya's position now was
not clear. The Kenyan delegation would hold a pre-meeting in
Addis to discuss the final position. He noted that the
Sudanese Government was using its bilateral relationship with
Kenya to try to sway their position.


4. (C) Ambassador Bellamy is currently trying to contact
Foreign Minister Tuju to again state our case. We will call
Washington with a read-out if we are able to make contact.


5. (C) COMMENT: While the Kenyans have not said outright that
they will not support re-hatting, their tone has changed
sufficiently since the visit of the Special Envoy to lead us
to believe they have been rolled. Working in Sudan's favor
is the Kenyan Government's current sensitivities about
foreign criticisms of recent GoK actions involving corruption
and a media crack-down. Sudan can commiserate with Kenya
about meddlesome foreigners, which may have helped pull Kenya
around to a more Sudan-friendly position. END COMMENT.
BELLAMY