UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000076 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24 JANUARY 2008 Classified By: Military Staff Committee Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Eas ton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3, 4 and 5. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: This week saw limited progress in UNAMID deployment planning by a number of TCCs including China, Egypt and Bangladesh, and one potentially significant development with the provision of helos coming out of Abuja; the GOS continues to be problematic in a number of ways, including with SOFA Negotiations. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) UNAMID Deployment update. - China: The main body of Chinese engineers is due to arrive in Darfur 23 March 2008. In the meantime, the advance party of Chinese engineers reportedly has begun work on the super camp. - Egypt: According to the UN Darfur Integrated Operations Team (IOT),Egyptian engineer, signal and heavy transport company elements will begin to arrive in Darfur in February, with respective main bodies following in mid-March. The infantry battalion is scheduled to deploy advance elements in March and complete deployment in April. - Bangladesh: Multi-role logistics company scheduled to deploy in April. - Pakistan: The UN will revisit Pakistan's offer of an aerial recce unit in the wake of last week's UKUN-hosted helicopter donors' meeting. If donor countries will provide Pakistan with the necessary equipment to upgrade its aerial recce unit, the UN will accept it for the mission. - Ethiopia: Infantry battalion will deploy in the March/April time frame, provided that the UN Pre-deployment Visit (PDV) goes as planned. The UN PDV is scheduled for 10-15 February (ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Addis Ababa approach the GOE to confirm its readiness for the UN PDV). ¶4. (C) Force Generation update. --Helos: According to the UN Darfur IOT, Nigerian Military Advisor (Brigadier General Obasa) in NY indicated that the Government of Nigeria was considering providing ALL required helicopter assets for UNAMID. USUN MSC contacted Gen Obasa who confirmed that his government is considering the offer, but he had no further details at this time (ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Abuja approach the GON to determine the validity and viability of this potential offer). -Canadian APCs The IOT informed USUN that Canada and the UN have entered into a 6 month wet lease agreement for the 100 APCs that Canada previously provided in support of AMIS. While there are details still to be worked out, this APC support should continue until June. IOT told USUN that after 6 moths the APCs utilized by the Rwandans would be turned over to the Rwandans as Contingency Owned Equipment (COE). The UN hopes Canada will do the same with the balance of the APCs for the countries that are utilizing them. Additionally the IOT informed USUN that the UK is requesting a partners meeting in NY to discuss UNAMID/AMIS turnover issues. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of February 11th (ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Ottawa approach the GOC to thank Canada for their support and encourage Canada to donate the additional APCs to South Africa and Nigeria). ¶5. (C) Ongoing hindrances by the Government of Sudan. USUN NEW Y 00000076 002 OF 002 --The IOT informed USUN the GOS is attempting to expel UNAMID Chief of Staff Brigadier General Patrick Davis-Houston (UK). Apparently the GOS claims the UN did not use the proper "vetting process" to assign Gen Davis-Houston to the post, although the GOS evidently granted Davis-Houston a visa to assume the post. Additionally, the IOT stated that the AU also supports the GOS in this because "no AU candidates were considered." General Agwai, however, had no problem with the vetting process and wants to retain Davis-Houston. (ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request USAU approach the AU leadership to accept the COS and encourage AU to weigh in accordingly with the GOS). --Status of Forces Agreement: The UN lead negotiator has made no progress with the Government of Sudan to accept the standard SOFA agreement. The UN negotiator's assessment is that the GOS has no intention of treating UNAMID as a Peacekeeping Operation, and that the caveats the GOS is attempting to write into the SOFA are unacceptable and will not allow UNAMID to fulfill its mandate. KHALILZAD