UNAMID IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE AND TIMELINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000750 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU UNSC SUBJECT: UNAMID IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE AND TIMELINE CHALLENGES REF: UNAMID IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE AS OF SEPTEMBER 13 2007 Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad, per 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: DPKO Military Planning Division Acting Director Major General (MG) Five briefed UNSC Military Advisors September 10 on UNAMID implementation. Topics included current status of deployments of the AMIS battalions, the Light Support Package (LSP),the Heavy Support Package (HSP) and UNAMID. MG Five said an assessment of AMIS current capabilities is underway. Inputs to the assessment are being provided by AMIS and AU partners, with UN verification. Assessed shortfalls could impact the force requirements for UNAMID. RECOMMENDATION: USUN requests department demarche AU asking that they expeditiously concur with UN TCC selections. END SUMMARY. -------------- AMIS Assessment Underway -------------- ¶2. (C) Major General Five, acting Military Advisor to the Secretary General, briefed the UN Military Advisors on SIPDIS September 10th on the status of the UNAMID implementation. He reported that the AMIS force has not yet restructured its area of operations from eight sectors to three sectors as called for under the LSP. A UN assessment of current AMIS capabilities is underway and will be completed by September ¶28. Inputs to the assessment are being provided by AMIS and AU partners. According to Major General Five assessed shortfalls could impact the force requirements for UNAMID. -------------- LSP Nearly Complete; HSP Remaining Requirements -------------- ¶3. (C) MG Five said the LSP has deployed 93 of the 105 officers the UN was to provide in support of AMIS, 40 in Darfur and 53 in Khartoum. Those in Khartoum are temporarily assigned to HSP/UNAMID implementation. Six more are in transit to Sudan and six remain to be generated. ¶4. (C) All HSP units have conducted the reconnaissance visits and some have entered into MOU's with the UN. The UN will conduct pre-deployment inspection visits, required for all TCC's to ensure they adhere to personnel and equipment readiness agreements, by October 18. ¶5. (C) Remaining requirements for the HSP include: -- Land- to expand existing camps, and land for new camps is being negotiated with the GoS; -- Airlift restrictions- negotiations are underway to allow strategic lift airplanes landing rights at various airfields within Sudan via a note from the Joint Special Representative (JSR) to the GoS; -- Visas- the easing of visa restrictions to enter the country has been addressed via a note from the Joint Special Representative (JSR) to the GoS but has not been resolved; -- Water- surveys are being conducted by the Department of Field Services (DFS) and a plan for distribution is likewise being planned by DFS. -------------- UNAMID Needs Specialized Units -------------- ¶6. (C) With regard to UNAMID, Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) have not yet pledged aviation assets (utility helicopters),except the offer of 2 helicopters from Uruguay. Additionally, DPKO lacks pledges for two of the three required transportation companies. These shortfalls will impact the force's ability to conduct logistics missions. Remaining issues include: -- The equipment deficiencies for infantry units from African TCCs. -- The landing rights issue addressed above pertaining to the HSP also applies to UNAMID and needs resolution. -- DPKO is also waiting on an AU response for the final TCC selection. The AU wishes to retain an African character regardless of equipment readiness; the UN is focused on presenting the best force possible while respecting the desires to have an African character. ¶7. (C)USUN requests department demarche AU asking that they expeditiously concur with UN TCC selections. USUN NEW Y 00000750 002 OF 002 KHALILZAD