DPKO LIST OF SUDANESE IMPEDIMENTS TO UNAMID DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000027



SIPDIS



SIPDIS



IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON



E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, SU, MOPS

SUBJECT: DPKO LIST OF SUDANESE IMPEDIMENTS TO UNAMID

DEPLOYMENT





Classified By: Ambassador Jackie Wolcott for Reasons 1.4 B/D.



1. (C) UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

officials provided USUN officers with the following list of

Government of the Sudan impediments to UNAMID deployment on

January 9. While many of the issues appear insubstantial,

collectively they demonstrate a significantly delayed and

weakened deployment.



2. (U) Begin Text of DPKO list of Sudanese impediments to

UNAMID deployment:





-- Government of Sudan delaying negotiations on Status of

Forces Agreement; no interlocutor available since 11 December

2007 until 12 January 2008;



-- Government of Sudan withholding authorization for night

flights and 24/7 freedom of movement for the mission,

including for MEDEVAC;



-- Government of Sudan contesting AU-UN agreed accoutrements

for UNAMID (blue beret and AU armband);



-- Government of Sudan delaying its formal agreement with the

proposed AU-UN force composition for UNAMID; list of TCCs

sent to the Government on 2 October 2007;



-- Shortfalls in UNAMID force composition: one heavy and one

medium transport unit, three military utility aviation units

(18 helicopters),one light tactical helicopter unit (6

helicopters),one multi-role logistics unit, and one aerial

reconnaissance unit;



-- Slow pace of pre-deployment preparations by TCCs and PCCs,

i.e. recce, pre-deployment visits, MOU negotiations,

provision of load lists of equipment to be transported to

area of operations; only 5 load lists submitted of 17

currently required;



-- Government of Sudan delaying the customs clearance of

UNAMID materials (blue berets and AU arm band);



-- Government of Sudan delaying the transport of UNAMID

equipment for Bangladeshi FPU and advance party of Chinese

engineering unit from Port Sudan and Khartoum respectively to

Nyala (transport took 7 weeks during which the FPU and

advance party of engineering unit were not operational);



-- Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority withholding clearance

and certification for 8 UNAMID helicopters in Khartoum and El

Obeid required to support the Mission;



-- Government of Sudan withholding diplomatic clearance for

12 UNAMID helicopters located outside Sudan;

Ministry of Foreign Affairs withholding authorization for the

release of 4 Nigerian APCs from the Nyala airport;



-- Government of Sudan / Governor of North Darfur prolonging

negotiations with UNAMID for additional land in El Fasher to

allow the expansion of the UNAMID Headquarters which can

currently only accommodate 58 individuals and 600 offices;



-- Governors of Southern Darfur and Western Darfur delaying

formalization of MOU agreements for land for UNAMID bases in

Nyala (S Darfur),and Zalingei (W Darfur) and El Geneina (W

Darfur);



-- Ministry of Foreign Affairs denial of 20 visa applications

for

UNAMID staff on 8 January without explanation;



-- Lack of clarity and consistency in administrative

procedures, resulting in delays and the application of ad-hoc

procedures regarding travel, stay visas, and work permits for

international staff;



End Text.



KHALILZAD