Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NDJAMENA163
2008-04-17 16:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

SRSG ANGELO MULLS MINURCAT ROLE IN MILITARY BORDER

Tags:  PREL CD UN EU SU MARR MASS SE LY 
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VZCZCXRO0927
RR RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHNJ #0163 1081633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171633Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6163
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1673
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1491
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 0165
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0902
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 3050
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1012
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0467
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 1049
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000163 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN, AF/C,
AF/SPG, AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CD UN EU SU MARR MASS SE LY
SUBJECT: SRSG ANGELO MULLS MINURCAT ROLE IN MILITARY BORDER
OBSERVERS FOR DAKAR PEACE PROCESS

REF: LIBREVILLE 293

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000163

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN, AF/C,
AF/SPG, AND AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CD UN EU SU MARR MASS SE LY
SUBJECT: SRSG ANGELO MULLS MINURCAT ROLE IN MILITARY BORDER
OBSERVERS FOR DAKAR PEACE PROCESS

REF: LIBREVILLE 293


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE: SEE PARA 6.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: UN SRSG VICTOR ANGELO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR 4/16
THAT A UN FORCE OF 100-150 MILITARY OBSERVERS COULD BE PLACED
RELATIVELY QUICKLY ALONG THE CHAD-SUDAN BORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE
DAKAR PEACE ACCORD IF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC) WERE TO AGREE
TO EXPAND THE MINURCAT MANDATE. HE ASKED OUR OPINION OF THE IDEA.
WE SAID WE THOUGHT IT MERITED FULL CONSIDERATION AND WOULD ADVISE
WASHINGTON OF HIS PROPOSAL. END SUMMARY.

MAKE MINURCAT "THE SPINE" OF MILOB BORDER FORCE
-------------- --

3. (SBU) SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL VICTOR
ANGELO TOLD AMBASSADOR APRIL 16 THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING PROPOSING TO
THE SYG THAT MINURCAT'S MANDATE BE EXPANDED TO MAKE IT RESPONSIBLE
FOR A MILITARY OBSERVATION FORCE ALONG THE CHAD-SUDAN BORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE DAKAR PEACE ACCORD. ANGELO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE
DAKAR PROCESS GAVE RESPONSIBUILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCORD
TO THE ALL-AFRICAN CONTACT GROUP, THE GROUP HAD FEW MEANS AND LITTLE
EXPERTISE IN ESTABLISHING AND RUNNING A PKO LIKE A MILITARY BORDER
OBSERVATION FORCE. THE UN OF COURSE HAS BOTH. ANGELO ESTIMATED THAT
A MILOBS FORCE OF 150-200 PERSONNEL COULD DO THE JOB. HE SAID THAT
MINURCAT, ALREADY PROTECTED BY EUFOR, IS WELL-PLACED TO CARRY OUT
SUCH A MISSION. IT WOULD REQUIRE ONLY AN EXPANSION OF MINURCAT'S
MANDATE BY THE UNSDC TO INCLUDE A MILOBS BORDER MISSION FOR MINURCAT
TO GET TO WORK. FORCE PROTECTION WOULD BE PROVIDED BY EUFOR (AS
ALREADY PROVIDED FOR IN THE UNSC RESOLUTION.)


4. (SBU) ANGELO SAID THAT IF HE WERE GIVEN A MILOBS BORDER
OBSERVATION MANDATE, HE WOULD FIRST REQUEST PERSONNEL FROM THE
CONTACT GROUP COUNTRIES - SENEGAL, LIBYA, GABON, AND ERITREA - THEN
SEEK PERSONNEL FROM OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES, AFRICAN AND NON-AFRICAN.
ANGELO SAID THAT MINURCAT COULD COORDINATE ITS MILOBS MANDATE WITH
UNAMID ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHAD-SUDAN BORDER. ANGELO NOTED
THAT THIS IDEA WAS COST-EFFECTIVE, CREDIBLE, AND RELATIVELY EASY TO
PUT IN PLACE.


5. (SBU COMMENT: THIS STRIKES US HERE AS A SOUND IDEA. EUFOR HAS
THE MANDATE TO PROTECT AND ASSIST MINURCAT. EXPANDING MINURCAT'S
MANDATE TO INCLUDE MOUNTING A MILOBS BORDER OPERATION ALONG THE
BORDER WOULD GET CHADIAN ASSENT, WE BELIEVE. SUCH A FORCE WOULD BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE A NEUTRAL AND CREDIBLE ACCOUNT OF CROSS-BORDER
INCURSIONS AND DISCOURAGE BOTH SIDES FROM SUCH INCURSIONS.
CURRENTLY THE UN AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS ONLY THE
"WARRING COMMUNIQUES" ISSUED BY CHAD AND SUDAN AS TESTIMONY TO WHAT
IS HAPPENING ON THE BORDER. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW KHARTOUM OR LIBYA
WOULD REACT.


6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDER ACTING IN
NEW YORK TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF AN EXPANSION OF MINURCAT'S MANDATE
TO INCLUDE A BORDER MILOBS MISSION SUCH AS THE SRSG HAS PROPOSED


7. (U) TRIPOLI MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.