DEMARCHE DELIVERED - TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000499 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S STATE FOR IO/PSC DENNIS HANKINS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PREL UNSC MASS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED - TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR REF: SECSTATE 90022 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Eastham met with Minister of Defense Bob Khamisa on June 27 to discuss Malawi's possible troop contribution to an UN/AU peacekeeping force in Darfur. Khamisa, who was appointed Minister on May 10, 2007, reiterated past GOM statements that the Malawi Defense Force has a battalion of trained peacekeepers who are ready to deploy. But . . . -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Minister said that twelve Armored Personnel Carriers ordered from South Africa (with Taiwanese funding) would be ready on or around July 15, and these would then be used in the potential deployment. However, he admitted that President Mutharika still has concerns over the financial implications of troop contribution, and that the GOM is waiting for an official request to join the mission which they hope will address these financial concerns. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Eastham urged Malawi to fully commit to the UN/AU mission, and reiterated past guidance that should Malawi make a firm commitment to the mission the USG would be in a position to provide limited equipment support, order of magnitude perhaps up to one million dollars. ¶4. (SBU) We will continue to follow up with the MOD on this issue, and urge Malawi to move forward and publicly commit to deployment. EASTHAM