USUN DEMARCHE FOR KK UNAMID SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 077798


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: KPKO PREL RW SU UNSC
SUBJECT: USUN DEMARCHE FOR KK UNAMID SUPPORT

Classified By: IO Acting A/S Brian H. Hook, E.O. 12958,
Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d)



1. (C) This is an action request for USUN (para 4).


2. (C) In several recent meetings with the State
Department, the most senior GOR leaders have delivered the
message that Rwanda will pull out of Darfur if Rwandan UNAMID
Deputy Force Commander General Karenzi Karake is removed.
Most notably, it was confirmed in meetings between President
Kagame and A/S Frazer at the AU Summit as well as on July 15
in a meeting with A/S Frazer and Foreign Minister Museminali.
The FORMIN also noted that President Kagame has sent a letter
to the UNSYG on this case. A/S Frazer asked for a copy. In
both of these meetings, as well as numerous others, the
Rwandans confirmed that they will not only pull out of
Darfur, but opt out of serving in future UN peacekeeping
operations.


3. (C) Minister Museminali informed the U.S. in the July 15
meeting that General Karake has been told that he will have
to submit to an interview to compete for his position on July
23, along with several new candidates. Museminali labeled
this as blatant discrimination, when compared with the
treatment of Nigerian UNAMID Force Commander Agwai who was
renewed without an interview process.


4. (C) Action request USUN: In view of the serious
situation in Sudan/Darfur and the critical importance of
efforts to strengthen UNAMID in the face of continuing
obstacles and threats, USUN is instructed to inform UN
officials, especially DPKO U/S Jean-Marie Guehenno and UNSYG
Ban Ki Moon, that the USG urges the renewal of Karake,s
contract, without discrimination. Please see below talking
points to draw from.


5. (C) Begin Points:

-- The United States Government is deeply concerned about
developments in Sudan/Darfur, and strongly committed to
supporting the strengthening of UNAMID. We would be
seriously concerned about any action that might create
additional obstacles to efforts to enhance UNAMID, or
jeopardize steps already taken. A decision not to reappoint
Rwandan General Karenzi Karake may have such an effect.

-- The Rwandans, by all accounts, are the most effective
fighting force in Darfur and play a critical part in our
joint efforts in that region. General Karake has shown that
he is an active, experienced, and capable officer in an
environment demanding such qualities.

-- The GOR has delivered a strong message to the U.S.
Government and, we have been told, to the UN that Rwanda will
pull all of its troops out of Darfur if Karake is removed.
(NOTE: We understand that this was conveyed to UNSYG Ban Ki
Moon through a letter from Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The Department has not seen a copy of this letter. END
NOTE.) The GOR at the most senior levels has also told us
that Rwanda would decline future participation in peace
keeping missions.

-- Bringing peace to Darfur is a top priority for the
international community and the UN. Losing the four Rwandan
Battalions that are there, a total of 2500 soldiers, would be
detrimental to the peacekeeping operation and fellow
peacekeepers, leaving the population at great risk.

-- We have explored with the senior levels of the GOR a
face-saving approach to the General Karake situation, which
might include his voluntary retirement after his contract was
renewed. The GOR has strongly rejected even considering this
possibility.

-- In view of the compelling need to ensure UNAMID's
viability and chances for success, the United States
recommends that Karake's contract be renewed.

-- We are aware of a number of serious accusations alleging
Karake,s involvement (as well as that of virtually the
entire hierarchy of the Rwandan military) in or connection to
crimes committed in Rwanda and DRC between 1994 and 2000.
Our own review of the information available to us prior to
Karake,s initial appointment did not produce any information
that would have warranted urging his rejection.


6. (C) Background:

An independent magistrate in Spain issued an indictment of
Rwanda,s top military and political leaders in January,
including General Karenzi Karake. The Spanish Indictment is
affecting Rwanda,s contribution to UNAMID, as GOR has
threatened to pull out if Rwandan Deputy Force Commander,
named in the indictment, is removed from his position. Over
the past month, the USG has encouraged the GOR to engage with
the GOS and distinguish their position from the court,s
account of the genocide, which raises basic questions of the
judge,s understanding of the true course of events. The
indictment has created bilateral and multilateral
difficulties for the GOR, and specifically the top military
and political leadership of Rwanda. The GOR has publicly
castigated the West for its paralysis on these issues.

The Rwandans have four battalions in Darfur and are preparing
to upgrade each battalion to full UN strength with over $20
million in USG equipment and training support. Evidently
because of UN concerns over the Spanish indictment, his
position has been advertised for competition by the UN, while
the Nigerian Force Commander position has not.


RICE