UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 14

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000147 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 14 FEB 2008 Classified By: Military Advisor COL Mark Easton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The UN Darfur Integrated Operations Team (IOT) informed USUN that the Egyptian Contingency Owned Equipment for the heavy transport unit was released from the Port of Sudan on February. The UN will convene a bidders conference February 16-22 for companies to replace PA&E. DPKO is mostly satisfied with the finalized UNAMID Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA),but concerned that some provisions may lead to delays in UNAMID air movements. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) UNAMID Deployment. - According to the IOT, the Egyptian Contingency Owned Equipment for the heavy transport unit was finally released from the Port of Sudan on 12 Feb enroute to Khartoum. Once the equipment arrives in Darfur the UN will deploy the Egyptian troops. However, the deployment will likely slip beyond the scheduled date of 29 Feb. - UN Force Generation Services (FGS) recently received load lists for the Ethiopian Infantry Battalion and will schedule deployment in the March/April time frame. - According to the IOT, the Thai and Nepalese units are still on hold pending formal approval from the Government of Sudan. - The UN, per recommendation of UNAMID Force Commander General Agwai, intends to bring former AMIS battalions (now part of UNAMID) up to UN manning and equipment standards during their next scheduled rotation window of April-June. This may be problematic for some, including Rwanda, which has already indicated that it will struggle to field more than one battalion at UN standards. - IOT voiced frustration with the Pakistani contingent and the ongoing delays in the deployment process. Presently the UN is waiting on the final load list in order to schedule their deployment. ¶3. (SBU) Force Generation: - FGS noted that they are still missing aviation, transport, and logistical units. The UN sent Notes Verbal to all countries that had indicated they could provide transports units in the UN Stand-by Assistance System. To date, none of the countries have responded. ¶4. (SBU) Logistics: - The UN will convene a bidders conference 16-22 Feb for companies to replace PA&E. DFS informed MSC that US companies had been granted visas and are participating in the conference. DFS also reported that 14 task orders have been given to PA&E for various camp construction and camp expansion, but the super camp construction in Nyala was being done solely by the Chinese Engineers. UN DFS expects all camp construction to be completed by 15 July 2008. ¶5. (C) UNAMID Police Component: - According to DPKO, UNAMID individual police officer strength remains at 1,567 with another 319 inbound. The goal is to have approx 2,046 officers on the ground by the end of March. -Regarding Formed Police Units (FPUs),the Bangladeshi FPU has begun operational patrols in Nyala. -The Indian government will not grant border passage for the Nepalese FPU equipment designated as hazardous cargo, which will likely have to be airlifted to Sudan. The Nepalese FPU main body is expected to arrive in Nyala in mid March. -DPKO completed the Pre-Deployment Visit (PDV) with the first Indonesian FPU, scheduled to arrive on March 25. USUN NEW Y 00000147 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): - The SOFA was signed 9 Feb. IOT Director Mike Gaoutte said that the UN received "most of what it wanted." One item of concern is that UNAMID must notify the GOS civilian aviation authorities about movements by air (SOFA para 12),which is likely to pose problems in the future. WOLFF