DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH UNMIS FC LTG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000576 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND IO A/S SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2017 TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN PREL MOPS PINR KPKO UN AU-1, SU SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH UNMIS FC LTG LIDDER AND UN/OCHA SECURITY MCDONAGH REF: A. KHARTOUM 574 ¶B. KHARTOUM 575 KHARTOUM 00000576 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On April 14, Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with UNMIS Force Commander (FC) Lt. General Lidder and Head of Security for UN/OCHA in Darfur Michael McDonagh. Both emphasized that simply increasing the size of peace-keeping operations (PKO) would not stabilize Darfur. General Lidder underlined that the AU Forces are not using the resources they have and are demoralized, so any expanded PKO would also have to have radically different command. McDonagh added that rebel forces are the greatest threat to humanitarian operations and pressuring these groups to accept peace is the only way to control them. End summary. -------------- Hybrid Force Will Need Real Leadership -------------- ¶2. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked General Lidder for his assessment of AMIS and his views on an AU/UN hybrid operation. The biggest problem, Lidder underlined, is that the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is not using the resources it has, so without a radical change in leadership more resources will not help. There is much AMIS could be doing now, but the soldiers do little, are often unpaid, and are now taking losses. McDonagh added that there are almost no patrols and no AMIS presence whatsoever in the camps. Indeed, AMIS has lost so much credibility that it faces outright hostility in the camps. ¶3. (C) In response to questions from the Deputy Secretary on Light Support Package (LSP) implementation, Lidder explained it is now improving. Since AMIS began taking casualties, even the Force Commander, once resistant, is more open to advice. He pointed out that the LSP arrangement of delegating tactical command authority to AMIS will not work with the Heavy Support Package (HSP) as many countries will not allow their troops to be under AU command. ¶4. (C) The LSP is still limited because only 50 of 105 UN advisors have arrived. The UN is also having trouble deploying two full colonels because the AU is balking at officers that would be senior to AU staff, although these officers would be the most effective at giving advice and challenging the status quo. -------------- - Aid Delivery: Political Process Must Be Pushed -------------- - ¶5. (C) The Deputy Secretary then asked about the space for humanitarian operations. McDonagh replied that there are signs of improvement since the government agreed to ease bureaucratic restrictions in late March, but it is too soon to tell. The first assessment committee meets next week. ¶6. (C) McDonagh underscored that targeted attacks by rebels are the biggest threat to humanitarian operations. He explained that as each new rebel group splinters off, they need to supply themselves with vehicles and communications and humanitarian organizations are the best source. While killings have decreased-- the rebels possibly do not want to frighten away their suppliers-- carjacking is on the rise and many organizations must instead use helicopters, which is not sustainable. ¶7. (C) While McDonagh described the G-19 as relatively professional, most rebel groups operate like mafias, looking to squeeze as much as they can out of their territory. However, almost no food aid has been stolen and the water drilling rigs have been left untouched. ¶8. (C) McDonagh believes the only solution is for the international community to place massive pressure on the rebel groups. The Deputy Secretary noted the difficulty of negotiating with leaders of rebel groups which often lose influence with their membership once they leave the field for talks. KHARTOUM 00000576 002.2 OF 002 ¶9. (C) The Deputy Secretary then asked about the conditions in the camps. McDonagh said that the people feel safe from the Arab militias in the camps because they are banding together to protect themselves. However, there is no policing and crime runs rampant. -------------- CPA: Redeployment Could Become a Problem -------------- ¶10. (C) On implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),Lidder told the Deputy Secretary that he is concerned about the slow pace of forming the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs). While he is satisfied with the progress of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) redeployment to the north, he is concerned that the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) is not redeploying as required, citing the lack of effective JIUs. He fears that by May or June, the SAF will use this as an excuse to stop their redeployment (due to be completed by 9 July),leading to further problems. ¶11. (U) Participants: U.S. The Deputy Secretary Jendayi E. Frazer, A/S for African Affairs Cameron Hume, Charge d'Affairs Bobby Pittman, Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council Bill Garvelink, USAID Advisor Colonel Dennis Giddens, Department of Defense Advisor Lt. Colonel Joseph Bovy, Defense Liaison Office Gustavo Delgado, D staff Ted Wittenstein, D staff Michael Honigstein (Embassy Notetaker) United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) Lt. General Lidder, UNMIS Force Commander Lt. Colonel Kochhar, Executive Officer to UNMIS Force Commander UN/OCHA Michael McDonagh, Head of Security HUME