RWANDA UNAMID DEPLOYMENT READINESS: REPORT #4

UNCLAS KIGALI 000731 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO RW SUBJECT: RWANDA UNAMID DEPLOYMENT READINESS: REPORT #4 REF: KIGALI 714 (SBU) 1. The UN Pre-Deployment Visit (PDV) team concluded its assessment on October 10, having evaluated the four Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) 800-man battalions slated for deployment to Darfur at the Gako training base. The PDV team found the four battalions to be tactically in very good shape, but logistically needing some further training assistance -- particularly in the areas of vehicle maintenance, radio communications, and quartermaster operations. An ACOTA team at GAKO for the formal dedication of the ACOTA-funded peacekeeping simulation center met with the PDV team and Rwandan military personnel and designed a short training program to address these logistical deficits. This training will begin November 3, one week's training per battalion. (SBU) 2. The PDV team and RDF officers preliminarily agreed upon an October 20 start date for the deployment of the four battalions. The UN will fund and organize the deployment of troops, with equipment and support staff to follow (post understands discussions are underway with the UN for USG support for this deployment of equipment). Vehicle operators and other support staff will undergo the ACOTA-funded logistical training while the troop deployments are underway. In accordance with standard deployment operations, they will accompany their equipment to Darfur. SIM