THE GAMBIA: SEEKING PUBLIC COMMITMENTS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000204

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS ODC, DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO SU GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: SEEKING PUBLIC COMMITMENTS OF
PERSONNEL FOR DARFUR MISSION

REF: A. STATE 51828


B. BANJUL 154 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph Stafford, reason 1.4 (b and d)


1. (SBU) Ambassador made ref a demarche April 23 to the
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (Deputy Foreign Minister
Equivalent),urging the GOTG to make a public commitment to
provide, in addition to its current troop contingent with
AMIS, forces for the HSP or follow-on hybrid operation. The
Permanent Secretary took note of our request, saying it would
receive the GOTG leadership's prompt consideration. At the
same time, he went on to note the GOTG's previous statement
to us (ref b) that any increase in the Gambian contingent in
Darfur would be conditioned on donors providing ten APCs in
addition to other "financial and logistical resources" for
the additional troops.


2. (C) COMMENT: At this point, our sense is that, without
assurances that donors will meet the GOTG's assistance
requirements, the Gambians are not likely to be willing to
make any commitment, public or otherwise, of additional
forces for Darfur. Nonetheless, we cannot rule out an easing
of the GOTG's insistence on its conditions for deploying more
troops, and we will continue to pursue this dossier with the
Gambians. Judging from the Permanent Secretary's previous
assurances (ref b),we expect the GOTG to maintain its
company-level contingent in Darfur, irrespective of whether
donors provide the APCs or other assistance sought by the
Gambians. END COMMENT
STAFFORD