RWANDANS READY TO REINFORCE UNDERSTRENGHT UNAMID

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000411

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO AF SU
SUBJECT: RWANDANS READY TO REINFORCE UNDERSTRENGHT UNAMID
BATTALIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: UN/Government of Rwanda (GOR) negotiations
for the participation of three Rwandan troop battalions in
Darfur went smoothly Monday, May 5th, paving the way for the
deployment of new Rwandan soldiers and equipment to the UN/AU
Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2008. The negotiated Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) between the UN and GOR allowed the UN
to confirm Rwanda had the equipment it needs to meet UN
standards and allowed the GOR to discuss the rates at which
it will be reimbursed for that equipment. During the
negotiations, the GOR made it clear to the UN that it was
prepared to rotate all three battalions in June/July. The US
confirmed its equipment and training programs for Rwanda
would be completed during this timeframe. It is now on the
UN to check with its mission and determine when the mission
is willing/able to receive the additional Rwandan troops END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) The GOR delegation was headed by Major General Patrick
Nyamvumba the Chief of Logistics (J4) for the Rwandan Defense
Forces (RDF). The Rwandans met with personnel from the United
Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) to
include representatives from the Department of Fields Support
(DFS),Force Generation Services (FGS),Movement Control
(MOVCON),and Medical Services (MS) as well as personnel from
the US and Canada. MOU negotiations went smoothly. UN DFS and
FGS were clear in what equipment was needed to bring the 3
Rwandan battalions that were part of the former African Union
Mission in Sudan (AMIS) up to UN standards. Rwanda felt
confident that with the help of the US and Canada they would
be able to provide the equipment.


3. (C) In accordance with the UNAMID Force Commander's
intent, General Nyamvumba told FGS that Rwanda was willing to
reinforce their three under strength battalions to UN manning
levels in June. The U.S. reported that before end-June one
battalions' worth of equipment would be delivered to Kigali
and the two remaining battalions worth of equipment would
arrive in Kigali end-July.


4. (C) UN FGS seemed pleased at Rwanda's readiness to
reinforce these under strength battalions to UN manning and
equipment levels. However FGS said they would need to speak
with UNAMID HQ in Darfur to see when the Mission would be
ready to receive the additional Rwandan troops. FGS cited
acquiring land, building and expanding camps and movement of
all the equipment from Kigali to Darfur as reasons that these
additional troops might not be able to deploy in June.


5. (C) NOTE: Bringing the 3 Rwandan Battalions up to UN
strength will take a total of 647 additional troops. The UN
has been briefed when these troops will be ready for
deployment and when the equipment for their battalions will
be in Kigali. The UN now must come up with a concrete
timeline of when it will move in these additional Rwandan
troops. END NOTE
Khalilzad