UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 28

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000188 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 28 FEBRUARY 2008 REF: USUN 166 Classified By: Colonel Mark Easton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Darfur Integrated Operations Team (IOT) reported that the Egyptian infantry battalion advance party will complete deployment into Darfur by March 15. The main body of the Ethiopian infantry battalion is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Sudan on March 29. DPKO will reconsider the Jordanian offer of helicopters, if the airframes are sufficiently upgraded for additional range and night flight capability. The bidders' conference to replace PA&E concluded successfully February 26. Interested companies have until March 20 to submit bids. The UKUN Milad informed USUN/MSC that the GOS is now insisting that UNAMID Chief of Staff BG Houston (UK) depart Darfur by February 29. The UK prefers to have the UN intervene with the GOS, instead of raising the issue on a bilateral basis. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) UNAMID Deployment update. - China: Equipment for the Engineer main body is still scheduled to arrive at the Port of Sudan on 6 March and should arrive in Darfur no later than 31 March. - Egypt: Advance party for the infantry battalion is scheduled to fly equipment into Darfur 24 Feb - 15 March. Troops are scheduled to arrive 16-19 March. - Ethiopia: Advance party for the infantry battalion is still scheduled to arrive by air 24 March - 4 April. The main body of equipment is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Sudan on 29 March. -Nigeria: A Level II hospital is still on schedule to arrive at the Port of Sudan on 7 March. ¶3. (C) Force Generation update. --Helos: Force Generation Service (DPKO/FGS) told USUN/MSC that they would be willing to reconsider the Jordanian offer if the helos were sufficiently upgraded with additional range and night-flying capability and if their pilots had the requisite training. ¶4. (C) Logistics. -The bidding conference for companies to replace PA&E concluded 22 Feb, and companies now have until 20 March to submit bids. IOT anticipates a new contract will be awarded NLT 15 July. -Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria have indicated that they will be able to provide their own cooks by 1 April in anticipation of the termination of the PA&E food provision contract. -Land: No change from last week; the UN is still waiting for the GOS to agree to the MOU. --Status of Forces Agreement: Of the two outstanding issues; notification of military and civilian air movements and visa issuance procedures (REFTEL),the GOS has reportedly agreed to negotiate an addendum to the SOFA to address the aviation movement issue. As it now stands, the UN must notify the GOS civilian aviation authorities about all military and civilian air movements. The UN believes this will become overly cumbersome and prone to misinformation. ¶5. (C) UNAMID Police Component. UNAMID individual police officer strength remains at 1567 personnel. DPKO is concerned that the pledged officer levels from member states have still not been staffed with named officers. DPKO and the AU liaison are following up with individual member states that made pledges. Regarding Formed Police Units (FPUs),the Indonesians intend to withdraw their offer of a second FPU and now will only provide one to UNAMID. The equipment for the Nepalese FPU has arrived in the Port of Sudan, and is scheduled to arrive in Nyala NLT the end of March. ¶6. (C) UNAMID Chief of Staff: UKUN Milad informed USUN/MSC that the GOS is now insisting that UNAMID Chief of Staff BG Houston (UK) depart Darfur NLT February 29. The UK prefers to have the UN intervene with the GOS, instead of raising the issue on a bilateral basis. KHALILZAD