DARFUR: EGYPT STILL RETICENT ON DEPLOYING TROOPS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002035

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS EG SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPT STILL RETICENT ON DEPLOYING TROOPS,
OFFERS MORE FOR HYBRID FORCE

REF: A. STATE 90022


B. CAIRO 1543

C. KHARTOUM 951

Classified by DCM Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Poloffs delivered ref A demarche to MFA
Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid on July 1. Abu Zeid confirmed
that Sudanese President Bashir's acceptance of the UN/AU
hybrid force lowered a barrier to deploying peacekeepers, but
that deployment of Egyptian troops still depends on the
"consent of the parties on the ground." Abu Zeid said that
Egypt was still rejecting a UN request to defer acceptance of
an Egyptian infantry battalion offered for the heavy support
package (HSP),and outlined a new Egyptian troop offer for
the hybrid force. Discussing a potential Minni Minawi visit
to Cairo, Abu Zeid confirmed that Egypt would continue to
offer public support for Minawi and for UN/AU-led political
reconciliation, and hoped that the July 6-7 conference in
Tripoli would help coordinate international efforts to unify
Darfur rebel groups. End summary.

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Troop Deployment at the Proper Time
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2. (C) On July 1, poloffs discussed ref A demarche with MFA
Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid, highlighting the urgency of
deploying UN peacekeepers to Darfur and encouraging Egypt to
drop conditions on its previously offered 1200 - 1900 troops
for the Heavy Support Package (HSP). Abu Zeid confirmed
that, with President Bashir's acceptance of the UN/AU hybrid
force, there was no longer any objection from the Sudanese
government; however, deployment of an Egyptian force still
depends on the "consent of the parties on the ground." When
pressed on this point, Abu Zeid said only that the details
will have to be worked out "at the proper time."


3. (C) The UN still prefers to defer an Egyptian infantry
battalion offered for the HSP and use it instead for the
hybrid force, Abu Zeid said. Echoing Ministry of Defense
interlocutors (ref B),he reiterated that Egyptian infantry
must accompany Egyptian units offered for the HSP to
guarantee protection.

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New Egyptian Offer for UN/AU Hybrid Force
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4. (SBU) Abu Zeid outlined an Egyptian offer for the
follow-on hybrid force, presented to the UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) on June 29. The Egyptian
contribution would consist of three infantry battalions, one
field hospital, 100 military observers, and 107 police
observers. Asked about providing a mechanized battalion,
either for the hybrid operation or to bolster AMIS forces on
the ground, Abu Zeid said that Egypt had already offered one
or two for the HSP and a third for the hybrid force; however,
if more are needed "of course we are ready."

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Delayed Minawi Visit, Tripoli Conference
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5. (C) Abu Zeid said that Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army
(SLM/A) leader Minni Minawi's trip to Cairo (ref C),
previously set for June 19, was delayed because meetings
could not be scheduled at such short notice; no new date was
yet arranged. Egypt offered public support for Minawi and
his adherence to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on his last
trip to Cairo, he continued, and would likely do so again
this time, as part of Egypt's support for the DPA and
UN/AU-led political reconciliation.


6. (C) Along these lines, Egypt will attend the UN/AU-driven
July 6 - 7 conference in Tripoli. Abu Zeid hoped that this
conference would help to coordinate disparate initiatives
aimed at unifying the negotiating positions of the DPA
non-signatories.
RICCIARDONE