COORDINATING WITH FRENCH ON UN FOLLOW-ON PRESENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 114559

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV EU PREF CD FR PKO CT CM
SUBJECT: COORDINATING WITH FRENCH ON UN FOLLOW-ON PRESENCE
IN CHAD AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

REF: A. NDJAMENA 491 AND PREVIOUS

B. PARIS 1936

Classified By: ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY PHILLIP CARTER, 1.4 (B)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2.

SUMMARY
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2. (C) Department requests Embassy Paris to engage with the
Government of France (GOF) on ways to move forward on
ensuring a sufficient United Nations peacekeeping mission to
replace the current United Nations Mission to the Central
African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the European Union
Peacekeeping Force (EUFOR). Department would like to discuss
options for coordinated initiatives to support ongoing
efforts by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (DPKO) to generate sufficient forces, personnel,
and resources for a follow-on peacekeeping mission in Chad
and northeast Central African Republic (CAR). Department
also seeks French input on the presence of formed police
units (FPU) in the follow-on mission. Following an agreement
on a coordinated approach between the USG and GOF, the
Department would like to work with the French to jointly
inform DPKO of our views.

OBJECTIVES
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3. (C) Department asks Embassy Paris to pursue the following
objectives:

- Commend the French for their support of the current
MINURCAT and EUFOR missions in eastern Chad and northeast
CAR, as well as French support for United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1834 extending the mandate for MINURCAT to
March 2009.

- Highlight USG support for a follow-on mission in the region
to replace the current MINURCAT/EUFOR mission and to improve
the security situation in both eastern Chad and northeast CAR.

- Note while USG financial contributions for a follow-on
mission must go through the formal approval process within
USG, the Department will advocate with the United States
Congress for resources for a follow-on mission.

- Ask French officials for their views on the tasks and
composition of a follow-on mission; specifically, should
there be a strong African component to the follow-on mission?
What should be the ratio of gendarmes or Formed Police Units
(FPUs) to military peacekeepers? In Chad? In the CAR? Note
that air assets will be an important force enabler.

- Inform them the Department is prepared to encourage African
partners in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI),s
Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA)
program to contribute units to a follow-on United Nations
mission. Indicate that the USG plans to provide assistance
to train and equip contingents for a follow-on mission, as
resources allow. Ask which African countries should be
prioritized for training and equipping support.

- Ask the French for additional ways the USG and France can
partner together to ensure sufficient resources are available
for the follow-on United Nations mission, and note that
Department experts are prepared to coordinate via a Video
Teleconference (VTC) with French authorities.

BACKGROUND
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4. (C) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1834
extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the
Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) to March 2009,
which coincides with the end of the mandate of the European
Peacekeeping Force (EUFOR) established to provide security to
MINURCAT personnel, humanitarian operations, and the civilian
population. The United Nations Secretary General,s
September 15 report on MINURCAT and EUFOR activities
recommended a United Nations mission in eastern Chad and
northeast Chad that would include 6,000 peacekeepers to
replace the EUFOR force. Also, there would be an "over the
horizon" rapid response force of some kind-a concept that was
not very fleshed out in the report. The Special
Representative for MINURCAT, Victor Angelo, and the Assistant
Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mullet,
noted the Government of Chad has agreed in principle to an
expanded follow-on force. DPKO recently obtained
confirmation from President Deby. President Bozize has also
expressed support for a continued United Nations presence in
northeast CAR.


5. (C) United Nations officials have noted that the ability
to stand up an expanded peacekeeping mission to take over
EUFOR,s responsibilities depends upon the number of troop
contributing countries (TCCs). While we understand that some
EUFOR countries are prepared to rehat troops to become part
of the UN mission, other countries, including France (which
provides a significant portion of the current EUFOR
contingent) are reluctant to maintain a presence in eastern
Chad. France has suggested a greater African presence for a
follow-on mission, but this possibility may meet resistance
from certain groups who view African forces as ill-prepared
and ill-equipped to handle the challenges of a difficult
region.


6. (C) The United States supports the presence of an
expanded United Nations mission that would take over EUFOR,s
functions. An expanded peacekeeping mission would help
protect vulnerable populations and humanitarian operations in
an increasingly volatile region. It would also permit
MINURCAT to continue its current responsibilities of training
and monitoring Chadian gendarmes to protect refugee and IDP
camps, and allow the mission to have a more active role in
enhancing local security capacities in eastern Chad. FY 2009
budget request for the USG assessed share of a follow-on
mission is USD 39 million, but this allocation still requires
formal USG approval, and is likely to be insufficient to meet
our assessed share of a total MINURCAT budget that could
reach $600 million or more. In addition, AF is considering
reaching out to ACOTA partners (such as Cameroon) to
encourage them to provide troops and FPUs to a follow-on
mission.


7. (C) In order to support DPKO,s efforts in full, however,
we believe that coordination with the French is essential.
Sounding the French out on their views for tangible
approaches to ensure a robust presence in eastern Chad and
northeast CAR will allow the USG to better gauge its
discussions with DPKO on how best to move forward in
implementing a follow-on mission.

REPORTING DEADLINE
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7. (U) Embassy should report results of efforts by cable to
AF/C and AF/RSA by Tuesday, October 28.

POINT OF CONTACT
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8. (U) Please contact AF/C Desk Officer Satrajit (Jitu)
Sardar at (202) 647-4966 or via classified or unclassified
e-mail or AF/RSA Desk Officer Chris Pommerer at (202)
647-7158 or via classified or classified e-mail for any
necessary further background information or argumentation to
meet our objectives.
RICE