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. USUN NEW Y 00000006 002 OF 002 ¶8. (U) The Government of Sudan still has not issued an official response to the proposed TCC list. Wolcott