THE GAMBIA: DEMARCHE ON TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000348

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR IO/PSC - DENNIS HANKINS; DAKAR PLS PASS ODC,
DAO, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS SU GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: DEMARCHE ON TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR
THE HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR

REF: A. STATE 90022

B. BANJUL 204 ET AL (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)


1. (SBU) Ambassador made ref a demarche to the Foreign
Affairs Permananent Secretary (Deputy Formin equivalent),
emphasizing the urgent need to find qualified peacekeeping
forces for the Hybrid Operation in Darfur. Ambassador urged
the GOTG to commit to expanding its current Darfur contingent
of 196 troops. (NOTE: The GOTG has also deployed about 100
police officers to Darfur. END NOTE) The Permanent Secretary
gave assurances that our request would receive the GOTG's
full consideration, but made no substantive comment.


2. (C) COMMENT: In our previous approaches to the GOTG to
urge that it expand its Darfur contingent (ref b),the GOTG
has responded that any expansion would be conditioned on
donors providing ten APCs in addition to other "financial and
logistical resources" for the additional troops. Our sense
remains that, without assurances that donors will meet the
GOTG's assistance requirements -- including the ten APCs --
the GOTG is not/not likely to be willing to make a commitment
of additional forces. END COMMENT
STAFFORD