SUDAN - CONFIRMATION OF FORCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO

UNCLAS STATE 108482 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BG ID PGOV PK PREL SU KPKO SUBJECT: SUDAN - CONFIRMATION OF FORCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNAMID REF: STATE 102405 ¶1. This is an action cable - see paragraphs 4, 5 and 6. ¶2. The Administration and the Department view the deployment of 4,000 peacekeeping troops, including from Egypt, Ethiopia and Rwanda, to Darfur as one of its highest priorities for the remainder of 2008. The Ethiopians and Egyptians were originally scheduled to deploy to Darfur in the first quarter of 2008, but to date only small advance companies have been deployed in order to prepare the ground for follow-on units. Ethiopia is ready to deploy, thanks in part to U.S. training and equipping, and sent an August 29, 2008 letter to the United Nations (UN) requesting approval to self-deploy personnel to Darfur. The United States supports this effort; however, troops cannot deploy to Darfur until their contingent-owned equipment (COE) has arrived in theater. The UN will engage with Ethiopia to deploy its personnel once their COE has arrived at its final destination. Egypt says it is ready to deploy but is blaming UN regulations for its inability to self-deploy, a claim we continue to pursue with the Egyptian Government (NOTE: The UN has received nothing in writing from Egypt asking to self-deploy). ¶3. According to UNAMID deployment projections, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are all scheduled to deploy elements to UNAMID in autumn/ winter 2008. In the interest of meeting or exceeding our 4,000-troop goal by the end of December, we are seeking the Indonesian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi governments to reconfirm their pledges to UNAMID and give an update on the status of these projected contributions. ¶4. ACTION JAKARTA: Indonesia is scheduled to deploy a 140-person Formed Police Unit (FPU) to North Darfur in October. At the highest level possible, Post is requested to contact high-level host government counterparts to assess the readiness of the host government to make good on this pledge to UNAMID. Post should urge counterparts to press forward with key steps in the deployment process. Post is also requested to urge government officials to seriously consider self-deployment of police and equipment and to ascertain any additional impediments to deployment (NOTE: The USG is not prepared to offer specific assistance to host governments for deployment of its forces, but Post is encouraged to consider ways in which the USG might help resolve any obstacles to such deployment). ¶5. ACTION DHAKA: Bangladesh is scheduled to deploy a 327-person multi-role logistic unit to South Darfur in October. Post is requested to contact host government counterparts to assess the readiness of the host government to make good on this pledge to UNAMID. Post should urge counterparts to press forward with key steps in the deployment process. Post is also requested to urge government officials to consider self-deployment of troops and equipment and to ascertain any additional impediments to deployment (NOTE: The USG is not prepared to offer specific assistance to host governments for deployment of its forces, but Post is encouraged to consider ways in which the USG might help resolve any obstacles to such deployment). ¶6. ACTION ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is scheduled to contribute a 329-person engineer company to West Darfur and a 156-person Level III hospital to South Darfur, which requires airlift of COE in December. Post is requested to contact appropriate host government officials to assess the readiness of the host government to make good on this pledge to UNAMID. Post should urge counterparts to press forward with key steps in the deployment process. Post is also requested to urge government officials to seriously consider self-deployment of troops and equipment and to ascertain any additional impediments to deployment (NOTE: The USG is not prepared to offer specific assistance to host governments for deployment of its forces, but Post is encouraged to consider ways in which the USG might help resolve any obstacles to such deployment). ¶7. Please submit responses to demarche request by Tuesday, October 14, 2008. For further information on this cable, please contact AF/SPG Josh Drake, 202-647-2348 or AF/SPG Emily Bruno, 202-647-5066. ¶8. Minimize considered. RICE