TANZANIA'S TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE HYBRID

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000945 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/PSC DHANKINS; AF/E BYODER ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017 TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS SU TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA'S TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR REF: STATE 090022 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1. 4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Tanzania currently has 20 peace observers in southern Sudan, and 2 staff officers in Darfur. However, President Jakaya Kikwete has told Ambassador Retzer in the past, and more recently during a June 17 meeting, that Tanzania is prepared to send peacekeeping troops to Darfur only as components of a genuine UN hybrid force, not as part of a force led or dominated by the African Union (AU). Tanzania's concerns in this regard are practical ones, springing from a fear that their troops may not be compensated in a timely or adequate manner if they fall under the control of the African Union. ¶2. (C) On July 3, Major General Hamis R. Semfuko, Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) Chief of Operations and Training, voiced the same concerns to the U.S. Defense Attache. Semfuko noted that the TPDF would need specific information regarding the roles of the UN and AU in any hybrid force, and would prefer a clear UN mandate, before sending Tanzanian troops to Darfur. ¶3. (SBU) The DCM plans to engage officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation later this week to encourage Tanzania to take a more forward-leaning position on deployment in Darfur. RETZER