AMIS TAKES STOCK

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001956 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, AF SE NATSIOS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: AMIS TAKES STOCK ¶1. (SBU) The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) held a combined review session, awards ceremony, and tribute to fallen AMIS soldiers on December 9. Speakers included Darfur Peace Agreement Implementation Team (DPAIT) Head Sam Ibok, Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada, and AMIS Military Advisor Lt. Col. Ferdinand Eze. ¶2. (SBU) DPAIT Head Sam Ibok told the 150 plus audience members that "tonight AMIS gets to tell its side of the story." He said that AMIS' job was "mission impossible," but while the international community expressed concern for Darfur, it was Africans that single handedly acted. AMIS arrived in Sudan without any previous experience, without equipment and without funding, he said, "but one doesn't wait around while your neighbor's house burns down." ¶3. (SBU) Ibok thanked the European Union, the UN, and countries including the U.S for their support. He thanked the Government of Sudan, saying "without them we would have no parameters." While we were frustrated with the GoS, we found that when we engaged, we had the ability to come out ahead. AMIS was set up to fail, and some have called us the "African Mistake In Sudan." "They asked us how we could work with the same government that was trying to undermine us, but we dd." ¶4. (SBU) Ibok said that critics need to portray the AU as a failure in order to pave the way for UNAMID. However, we need to manage the expectations of UNAMID because in the end, the problems of DARFUR require a political solution, and the AU is the pre-eminent political body on the continent. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Other speakers echoed Ibok's recognition for African sacrifice in the face of a lack of resources and expressed gratitude to all troop and financial contributors. Billed as a stock-taking event, the atmosphere was intended to be upbeat but there was a decidedly somber mood among participants, not least because of the ceremony commemorating the AMIS troops who were killed in the line of duty. Uncertainty among the AMIS staff regarding their future is undoubtedly another reason. Many AMIS staff members have submitted applications to UNAMID, but few hiring decisions have been made, and UNAMID seems to be casting its net widely to find the best applicants. FERNANDEZ