SUDAN - WEEKLY REPORTING ON UNAMID DEPLOYMENT

UNCLAS STATE 100304 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PREL SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - WEEKLY REPORTING ON UNAMID DEPLOYMENT READINESS ¶1. This is an action cable - see paragraphs 4-6 as applicable. ¶2. The Administration and the Department view the deployment of additional peacekeeping troops to Darfur as one of its highest priorities for 2008. An Egyptian battalion and an Ethiopian battalion taskforce are next in line for deployment to UNAMID. In Rwanda, provision of U.S. training and equipment is complete and four Rwandan infantry battalions of 800 personnel each are eager to rotate into Darfur at full UN strength before December. Deployment of these units will put over 4,000 much needed additional troops on the ground to help stabilize the security situation and protect civilians, but we are increasingly concerned about delays in the full deployment of these units. The Ethiopians and Egyptians were originally scheduled to deploy in Darfur in the first quarter of 2008, but to date only small advance companies have been deployed. ¶3. Pinpointing the obstacles to all three deployments - whether practical or political - is essential to the Department's efforts to craft constructive interventions. Increased reporting from troop contributing capitals and engagement with UNAMID leadership and host country officials would enhance our understanding and help us overcome these obstacles. Past reporting from posts on these and related issues has been exemplary. We would appreciate more targeted reporting specifically on Egyptian, Ethiopian, and Rwandan deployments. ¶4. ACTION ADDIS ABABA, CAIRO, and KIGALI - Posts are requested to engage regularly with host country officials at the highest levels to urge rapid deployment of peacekeeping troops pledged to Darfur. Posts are also requested to establish a weekly reporting cable to update Washington on the readiness, timetable, and deployment challenges of the host nation's Darfur troop contingent. The cable should include reporting on engagement with political, military, and civilian military leaders. This information will assist U.S. officials in Washington and New York in targeting political engagements and practical assistance to help advance deployment of these units. Please send the first weekly cable on Sept. 23, and to identify in that cable an Embassy point of contact for follow up on UNAMID deployment issues. ¶5. ACTION KHARTOUM - Post is requested to continue and deepen engagement with UNAMID officials in Khartoum and Headquarters El Fasher on all issues related to the deployment of the Egyptian, Ethiopian, and Rwandan troop contingents and report back in weekly cables on UNAMID deployment beginning on Sept. ¶23. Post should also prepare to engage the GOS to ensure that it is prepared not only to accept but facilitate these rapid deployments. Please identify the primary point of contact for this effort in the initial cable. ¶6. ACTION USUN - Post is requested to continue its intense effort through the Friends of UNAMID to engage with UN planners to press for the deployment of Egyptian, Ethiopian, and Rwandan peacekeeping elements. USUN is further requested to report promptly, via front channel cable, on the outcome of all meetings of the Friends of UNAMID. USUN is requested to develop a template for a periodic reporting cable on the status, timeline, and obstacles to those deployments. An update on UNAMID's deployment should be submitted, via front channel cable, every two weeks. USUN is requested to send these brief update reports, even if no significant change has occurred in the intervening period. ¶7. Department thanks Posts for their assistance. ¶8. Minimize considered. RICE