SUDAN - DEMARCHE ON RETAINING UNMIS FORCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 170092 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017 TAGS: SU PREL PKO UN MARR PEACEKEEPINGFORCES SUBJECT: SUDAN - DEMARCHE ON RETAINING UNMIS FORCE COMMANDER LIDDER Classified By: e.o. 12958, reasons 1.4(b) & (d) ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6 and ¶7. ¶2. (SBU) Background: The tour of UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) Force Commander Lt. General Jasbir Singh Lidder is set to end in January 2008. We understand that Lidder would like to extend his tour of duty with UNMIS and that the UK has lobbied within the UN and in New Delhi for his extension. Moreover, we understand that though India's Mission to the UN supports Lidder's extension, the Indian Ministry of Defense has blocked it. ¶3. (U) UNMIS is the UN peacekeeping operation mandated to monitor and support implementation of Sudan's historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),which ended 21-years of civil war between northern and southern Sudan when it was signed on January 9, 2005. Under the CPA, the parties to the agreement (e.g., the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)) are provided a six-year interim period during which a census, national elections, and a referendum determining the South's final status as part of a united or divided Sudan will take place. ¶4. (U) We see the role of UNMIS as exceptionally crucial in this fourth year of the six-year interim period. An effective UNMIS will be able to help ensure that the conditions for successful elections are created and that other key provisions of the CPA, such as power and wealth sharing are implemented. ¶5. TALKING POINTS: Lt. General Jasbir Singh Lidder is an effective leader of a challenging mission and we would like to see his tour as UNMIS Force Commander extended. The UN has not yet identified a leader to replace him, and UNMIS will suffer without strong and experienced leadership. The CPA is in a crucial period given the upcoming census, continued monitoring of final troop redeployments along the North/South border, support for the Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) (combined units of northern & southern soldiers),and preparations for the 2009 national elections. Lidder is an exceptional UN Force Commander and a transition of leadership at this time would not be helpful (particularly since the recently appointed UN SRSG for Sudan has just arrived). Securing the extension of UNMIS Force Commander Lidder's tour of duty would be a critical contribution on the part of India to promote peace in Sudan. ¶6. ACTION REQUEST NEW DELHI: Drawing from the background and talking points above, post is instructed to approach appropriate high-level officials within the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense to urge Lidder's tour as UNMIS FC to be extended. We understand that the UK has also recently demarched the Indian Government on this issue. ¶7. ACTION REQUEST USUN: Drawing from the background and talking points above, post is instructed to approach India UN counterparts at the highest possible level to underscore that we are also making similar requests in New Delhi and look forward to India's cooperation on this issue. ¶8. Please respond no later than December 28. POC in AF/SPG is Pamela Fierst. RICE