EGYPT: DARFUR TROOP DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS INTENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000041 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/PSC, NEA/ELA, AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV UNSC EG SU SUBJECT: EGYPT: DARFUR TROOP DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS INTENT TO MAINTAIN SIGNIFICANT ROLE REF: A. SECSTATE 2736 ¶B. 2006 CAIRO 3425 ¶C. 2006 CAIRO 3134 ¶D. 2006 CAIRO 2953 Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (SBU) Egypt is beginning to deploy its almost 700 signals, transport, and engineering troops to Darfur as part of the Heavy Support Package (HSP) for the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). MFA Cabinet Advisor for African Affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid told us on January 6 that the necessary equipment for the HSP was to begin to be deployed January 8, and that the full Egyptian HSP troop contingent would be on the ground in Darfur by late February. Per ref A demarche, we are requesting confirmation of the January 8 deployment and of the schedule for Egpyt's HSP and follow-on hybrid force from our MOD contacts. Asked about Egypt potentially supplying much-needed helicopters for UNAMID, Abu Zeid stressed that Egypt cannot meet this request due to the complex support network needed and the unstable security situation (ref C). ¶2. (U) This initial large-scale deployment of Egyptian forces to Darfur has been widely reportedly in local media. President Mubarak personally addressed the troops on January 2 prior to the beginning of the deployment process, which coincided with a visit by Libyan President Moammar Qadhafi in which the two discussed developments in Darfur. In a public statement about the address, Presidential spokesman Soliman Awaad highlighted that Egypt's peace-keeping contribution is part of extensive efforts by Egypt, Libya, Chad, and Eritrea, along with some non-African countries, to "put an end to the bloodshed in Darfur." ¶3. (C) Comment: The media blitz surrounding Egypt's troop deployment highlights the GOE desire to maintain a prominent role in Darfur. Egypt is a leader in Africa, as GOE officials often tell us; additionally, Egypt's proximity to and historical role in Sudan and reliance on Nile water resources puts Sudanese stability prime among Egyptian interests. In attempts to get more involved, Egypt hosted both a delegation of Darfur rebels and a conference with Sudan's neighboring countries late last year, and Egypt is prepared to host a new conference for Darfur rebel groups if the UN/AU requests it (refs B and D). ¶4. (C) Comment continued: However, Egypt's acquiescence to providing fewer troops for UNAMID than it had originally proposed - and had loudly trumpeted in the media - shows that Cairo is sometimes willing to accept a more limited role than it desires to play. The UN, wary of Darfur rebel concerns that Cairo is partisan to the Bashir government in Khartoum, accepted only one of three proposed Egyptian infantry battalions for UNAMID. ¶5. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. Ricciardone