SOUTH AFRICA ASKED TO MEDIATE CHAD-SUDAN DISPUTE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 000801 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR D, P, AF/SPG, AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2016 TAGS: PREL SU SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA ASKED TO MEDIATE CHAD-SUDAN DISPUTE, SAG SPLM TRAINING CONTINUES, MORE DARFUR TROOPS UNLIKELY REF: A. KHARTOUM 248 ¶B. 05 PRETORIA 4590 ¶C. 05 PRETORIA 3238 ¶D. 05 PRETORIA 525 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Don Teitelbaum Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Chad asked President Mbeki to mediate the dispute with Sudan at the AU Summit in Khartoum in January, according to DFA Director Graham Maitland (protect). Both Sudan and Chad were to send "experts" to South Africa to continue discussions, but since the summit nothing has happened. South Africa has begun the third phase of its training program for SPLM officials in Pretoria focused on public service administration. DFA Deputy Director Zaayman told PolOff February 23 that South Africa is unlikely to contribute more than 100 additional troops to the Darfur peace operation because SANDF is overstretched. He doubted that UN rehatting would affect the decision on additional forces. END SUMMARY. -------------- Chad-Sudan Mediation -------------- ¶2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director for the Horn of Africa, Graham Maitland told PolOff February 16 that Chad asked President Mbeki to mediate its dispute with Sudan at the AU Summit in Khartoum in January. President Mbeki said he would be willing to assist, and Sudan tentatively agreed to the mediation. Both sides were to send "experts" to South Africa, but since the summit nothing has happened. Maitland thinks the idea is "on hold" for now, but could resurface. He also noted that the Presidency would likely take the lead on any mediation, with DFA playing only a backup role. -------------- SPLM Training -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The third phase of South Africa's SPLM training program began February 13. (Note: The first two phases, held in February and July 2005, focused on leadership and diplomatic training (reftels). End Note.) The current program, managed by the University of South Africa (UNISA), will provide 30 SPLM officials with two weeks of theoretical training on public service administration at UNISA and two weeks of practical experience working in South African ministries. The Ministry of Public Service and Administration is coordinating the two-week "internships" in the ministries. The current plan is to bring several waves of officials to South Africa over the next three to four months. ¶4. (C) The SAG has funded the SPLM training out of its own internal "African Renaissance Fund." Maitland said that the SAG may approach donors to "partner" with South Africa on the SPLM program, particularly as it expands over the next few years. DFA may raise this issue with the Department at the upcoming Africa consultations meetings in Washington in early March, Maitland said. -------------- Darfur Peace Mission -------------- ¶5. (C) In a February 21 meeting with Codel Pelosi, President Mbeki stated that South Africa "can and probably should send more troops to Darfur." He stressed, however, that the focus must be on "creating an atmosphere conducive to political progress." (Details septel) ¶6. (C) South Africa is considering increasing its troop contribution to AMIS by a "symbolic amount," perhaps 100 troops, according to DFA Deputy Director for Peace PRETORIA 00000801 002 OF 002 Operations, Wooter Zaayman. Zaayman told PolOff February 23 that the South African political leadership would like to send additional troops, but that the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) is simply stretched too thin. He doubted that the "rehatting" of the force would have any impact on South Africa's ability to augment its force. ¶7. (C) Zaayman also said that the current Commissioner of the AMIS Civilian Policing Component in Darfur, Anand Pillay, is returning to South Africa, and a new South Africa police official would be sent to take his position. South Africa has 125 police serving as part of the AMIS Police Component. TEITELBAUM