EGYPTIAN UNAMID DEPLOYMENT

UNCLAS CAIRO 002089 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, AF/SPG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO SU EG SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN UNAMID DEPLOYMENT REF: A. STATE 100304 ¶B. CAIRO 1213 ¶1. (U) As of September 2008, this is the data we have on Egypt's UNAMID deployment. Egypt's initial planned contribution to UNAMID was 1,520 personnel, which it has not yet met. This number appears to have increased with the commitment of a second infantry battalion of approximately 850 personnel. ¶2. (SBU) To date Egypt has deployed 683 troops to UNAMID. Most recently, Egypt completed the full deployment of its 335-person engineering company, with the arrival in Darfur of 126 engineers in July and another 126 engineers on August 12. In May, Egypt sent 185 signals personnel to Darfur. They joined 128 military observers and 35 police trainers that had previously been deployed. Additionally, Egypt has sent over 800 troops to the UN Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMIS). ¶3. (SBU) Egypt still needs to deploy two infantry battalions--of approximately 850 personnel per batallion--and 150 medium transport personnel in order to fulfill its UNAMID commitment. Post is endeavoring to set up a meeting with the UN Affairs office in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss deployment plans for these troops, but the meeting may be delayed until the end of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday. SCOBEY