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