SUDANESE AGREE TO US AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR UNAMID;

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001573

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018
TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL UNSC SOCI SU
SUBJECT: SUDANESE AGREE TO US AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR UNAMID;
DESIRE CONTRACTOR OTHER THAN PAE

REF: KHARTOUM 1551

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)


1. (C) CDA Fernandez met with MFA Under Secretary Dr. Mutriff
Siddiq on 23 October to inform him of planned US airlift
support for UNAMID. Explaining that the USG would like to be
clear and precise with the GNU on the USG's agreement with
the UN to provide airlift support for UNAMID personnel and
equipment to and within Darfur, Fernandez gave Dr. Siddiq a
dip note explaining details regarding the support. Fernandez
explained that the USG's support to the UN will consist of
(1) providing DoD-managed airlift to deploy Rwandan
peacekeeping personnel and their equipment directly to Darfur
and (2) providing USDOS-managed airlift to move 400
twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from El Obeid, Northern
Kordofan to Nyala, South Darfur and El Geneina, West Darfur.
The CDA stated that the DoD-led effort should begin on/around
November 15, while the USDOS-led effort could begin as early
as October 27. He mentioned that State has chosen PAE to act
as the contractor for the movement of the TEUs and that DoD
has not yet chosen its contractor for the movement of Rwandan
troops and their equipment. He asked for the GNU's full
assistance in obtaining all necessary flight clearances,
apron rights, and GNU authorizations necessary for conducting
successful air operations.


2. (C) Dr. Siddiq said that the GNU has "no problem" with
the DoD-led effort to transport the Rwandan peacekeepers and
their materiel to Darfur. This was a repeat of an arrangement
the Embassy had facilitated last October with the Sudanese
Government. Furthermore, he said that the GNU "expects even
more help" from the USG with the movement of Egyptian and
Ethiopian troops to Darfur in coming months. While the GNU
"basically has no problem" with the State-led TEU air bridge,
Siddiq said that the use of PAE would be an "embarrassment"
to the GNU and informed Fernandez that the GNU would rather
another contractor be used, particularly in light of the fact
that the GNU (not so amicably) asked that PAE's contract be
terminated in Darfur in July. "We don't object to this (the
TEU air bridge),but to use PAE?" It would make it easier for
us if you didn't use PAE," said Siddiq. Siddiq also raised
the issue of Geneina Airport and questioned whether PAE's
aircraft could successfully transport the TEUs and safely
land on the shortened runway in Geneina, which is shorter
than the runways at Nyala and El Fasher. Fernandez mentioned
that PAE knows the landscape of Darfur well because of their
history in the area, but said he would relay the GNU's
concern about PAE to Washington. Fernandez added that the
USG-UN agreement to provide air transport for UNAMID
personnel and equipment to and within Darfur is "an effort to
improve the situation on the ground" in Darfur. "This is one
clear, simple way in which we can assess your cooperation on
Darfur," he said. Mutriff informed CDA that the GNU would
discuss the airlift issue further. "If it wasn't for the use
of PAE, I could give you a clear yes right now", he noted.


3. (C) CDA Fernandez also raised the issue of HAC harassment
of USAID-funded International Rescue Committee (IRC)
personnel in Darfur (reftel). Siddiq assured Fernandez that
the HAC "will be more open" with the IRC. "Our policy is to
facilitate (the work of these NGOs),but they also need to
abide by GNU regulations." Fernandez characterized the IRC
as being "squeezed" in its capacity to perform critical
health and sanitation projects in Darfur. Siddiq said that
the UK Special Envoy to Sudan Michael O'Neill also questioned
him on the Sudanese harassment of the IRC on 22 October.
Siddiq made it clear that he had been in contact with the HAC
in South Darfur about the issue.


4. (C) Comment: While the GOS is open to both the airlift of
Rwandan peacekeepers and their equipment and the State-led
TEU air bridge, the proposed use of PAE was not well received
and the regime seems to feel the choice of this company puts
it in an awkward position, having negotiated and renegotiated
the withdrawal of the company. Although we may well be
able to push the GOS into accepting PAE, it seems to be a
constant problem with the authorities. We are agnostic about
using PAE but recognize that to continue to do so will always
come at a price with this obstructionist regime.
FERNANDEZ