UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 3

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000006

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 3
JANUARY 2008


Classified By: Ambassador Jackie Wolcott for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. The scheduled Transfer of Authority (TOA)
from AMIS command to UNAMID command took place as scheduled
on December 31. On December 27, Acting UN Military Advisor
Major General Five briefed the P-5 on the results of the High
Ranking Operational and Technical Advisory Team (HROTAT)
visits that he conducted to ascertain TCC readiness. The UN
has not yet found a country to provide helicopters or
transportation units. UKUN plans to convene a meeting to
determine all that has been done to acquire these assets and
what avenues are left to obtain them. USUN confirmed that
the 8 U.S. military officers scheduled to join the UNAMID
staff will be allowed to carry weapons. There are three key
remaining issues that affect the deployment of UNAMIDs
forces: non-concurrence on the TCC list, land issues and the
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). END SUMMARY.


2. (C) A ceremony was held in al-Fasher on 31 December
marking the transfer of authority (TOA) from the AU Mission
in Sudan (AMIS) to the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur
(UNAMID). Although there has been no significant change in
troop numbers on the ground, UNAMID has a Chapter VII mandate
allowing for more robust action to protect civilians and
materials. The UN plans to deploy four infantry battalions,
from Egypt, Ethiopia, Thailand and Senegal, as well as
additional support units before June 2008. UNAMID's total
authorization of troops and police is 26,000.


3. (C) Major General Per Arne Five, acting UN Military
Adviser, met with P5 Military Staff Committee on December 27
to discuss UNAMID. Five had just returned from the high
ranking operational and technical advisory team (HROTAT)
visits to 11 countries in Western Africa. Five said that the
purpose of these visits was to ascertain readiness of TCCs to
deploy with UNAMID. Five also stated that UNAMID Force
Commander General Agwai is worried that many of the TCCs
scheduled to deploy are not self-sustaining, i.e. will
require significant logistical support to remain in the area
of operations. Five said that he believes the UN will need
to intervene with the Defense Ministers of the African TCCs
to ensure that they are prepared to deploy. He noted that
there is a lot of light infantry in Africa, but the UN is
looking for more robust troops with the right equipment and
training to contribute to UNAMID. Five said that the TOA
from AMIS to UNAMID would be cosmetic and that improved
operational capability would only be in place by June 2008.


4. (C) (COMMENT: USUN believes that it might be helpful to
invite Major General Five to Washington to explain how the
procurement process for TCCs is conducted and request his
input on USG support for the African components of UNAMID.
END COMMENT.)



5. (C) Helicopter Update: The UN still does not have a TCC
commitment of helicopters or transport units. UKUN announced
that it would host a donors meeting to solicit helicopters.
The UK Deputy Military Advisor has told USUN MSC that the
meeting is planned for January 15th or 16th. UK hopes to
have DPKO open the meeting with a summary of what the UN has
done to acquire helicopters. The UK will follow with
discussions of what options there are to obtain helicopters.
Current options include an inter-mission transfer from
Liberia or Congo, or a combined effort to acquire helicopters
from one country and pilots from another with civilian
maintenance (reftel).


6. (C) UN DPKO told USUN MSC on January 2 that eight U.S.
military officers deploying in support of UNAMID can carry
weapons. Typically, UN milobs are not authorized to carry
weapons. DPKO stated that because these eight will be "staff
officers" this rule will not apply to them. A force
protection assessment in Sudan conducted by U.S. Military
Observers Group Washington, D.C. (USMOGW) is scheduled for
January 22-30.

7.(C) At the TCC meeting conducted by Assistant Secretary
General Edmond Mulet December 27, a staff member from DPKO
indicated that there are still land issues to be resolved.
As a result, some of the forces will now be 12 months under
tents. Additionally, proposed sites in al-Geneina are not
adequate due to their close proximity to the airport. Other
sites are being considered. Also the SOFA has not been
settled. Integrated Operation Team leader Mike Gaouette
hopes to have it signed by mid-January 2008, but complained
that the GoS has not sent appropriate representation to
negotiate the SOFA.


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8. (U) The Government of Sudan still has not issued an
official response to the proposed TCC list.


Wolcott