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