DEMARCHE REQUEST: TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS UNITS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 023831 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO SU IN AN SA BD PA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS UNITS FOR THE UN-AU HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR (UNAMID) ¶1. This is an action request. See paras 4 - 6. Objective -------------- ¶2. To encourage host countries with appropriate capabilities to contribute the ground transport and logistics assets sought by the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and for which there are currently no offers from any troop contributing countries (TCCs). Background -------------- ¶3. Ensuring rapid and successful deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping operation to Darfur is an extremely high USG foreign policy priority. While progress in actual deployment remains disappointingly slow, African and other TCCs have made at least tentative offers for most of the military and much of the police personnel mandated by the UN Security Council for this force as well as many key enabling assets. UNAMID currently has over 9,000 military and police personnel on the ground and several important contingents are expected to deploy over the next two to three months. However, the mission's ability to operate over an extremely large area often with difficult terrain is severely limited by its lack of adequate transportation assets (both air and ground); deployments and effectiveness are also limited by a shortage of logistics assets needed to construct and maintain camps and other infrastructure in this harsh environment. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) continues to seek up to 24 helicopters (which have been the topic of extensive diplomatic efforts by the USG and others) as well as two medium-heavy transport companies and one multi-role logistics company. This demarche request focuses on target countries which may be able to provide the necessary ground transport and/or logistics companies. Action Requests -------------- ¶4. For Embassies: All Action Embassies (For Launda,only if post believes it would be appropriate) are requested to approach host government officials at the highest appropriate level to request that they contribute a transport company to UNAMID; Embassy New Delhi is also requested to ask that the Indian government consider providing a multi-role logistics company to UNAMID; other Embassies may make the same request at their discretion if there is information at post to suggest that your host country may be able to deploy such a unit. Washington believes that militaries in all your host countries are likely to have the necessary assets at least for the transport companies (approximately 30 trucks per company plus associated drivers and maintenance personnel). Pakistan, India and Bangladesh currently provide similar transport assets to other UN peacekeeping operations and India also has the proven ability to deploy the more complex multi-role logistics company to a UN peacekeeping mission. South Africa and Angola have not previously deployed such assets to a UN PKO but we believe it worth exploring their willingness to do so. Details of the precise UN requirements for this mission will be provided by unclassified email in a form that can also be passed to host governments as appropriate. ¶5. For USUN: Mission is requested to double-track these requests with military advisers and/or civilian staff of relevant counterpart missions in New York and with UN DPKO's Force Generation Service (FGS). ¶6. Posts may draw on the following points in approaching host governments: -- An effective UN-AU peacekeeping operation is an essential element of international efforts to bring a lasting peace to Darfur. -- While there are at least tentative commitments for most military personnel needed by the mission in its start-up phase, the UN and AU still seek transport and logistics assets which are critical for the mission to operate effectively in the large Darfur region. STATE 00023831 002 OF 002 -- We believe your military may have the necessary ground transport (if appropriate: and logistics) assets to contribute to the success of UNAMID. We urge you to give serious consideration to such a contribution, which would be greatly appreciated by the UN and AU as well as the United States. ¶7. Deadline: Please respond by COB March 12. POCs in IO/PSC are Grace Kang, LTC James Thomas and Doug Wake. RICE